Winning Streak Snapped by Mustangs

William Penn University Athletics

by Wade Steinlage

Oskaloosa–The Statesmen softball team failed to pick up some meaningful league wins Tuesday as it was swept by Mount Mercy in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader.

WPU (15-15, 6-4 Heart), which lost by scores of 3-0 and 5-3, had its four-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Mustangs (13-7, 6-2 Heart).

William Penn never could get things going in the opener, only being able to put runners on base in the fourth and fifth frames. In both innings, though, the navy and gold advanced those individuals into scoring position before stranding them there.

The hosts were outhit 8-3 and permitted one run in the third and two more in the fourth. Kiya Harper (Jr., Decatur, Ill., Exercise Science) was effective out of the bullpen, permitting just one hit with one strikeout in 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Statesmen started the nightcap on a much different note, putting two runs on the board right away in the bottom of the first when Lindsay Lambert (Sr., Elk Grove, Calif., Elementary Education) singled in Sonia Reddy (Jr., Tracy, Calif., Exercise Science) and Lexi Resa (So., Liberty, Mo., Biology).

The score remained 2-0 after four innings, but MMU finally answered in the top of the fifth, doing so in a big way with four runs. The visitors tacked on another run in the seventh to make it a 5-2 battle.

Reddy trimmed the deficit to one in the last half inning of the night when Reddy’s double plated Melina Fabian (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Exercise Science). Unfortunately, with the tying run at the plate, the Statesmen, who were outhit 11-6, could not muster any additional offense.

Reddy finished 2-for-4, while Shelby Copley (Sr., Denver, Colo., Biology) recorded a pair of strikeouts in relief.

Next Up: William Penn travels to Canton, Mo. Wednesday to face Culver-Stockton in a Heart doubleheader at 3 p.m.