WPU Drops Pair of One-Run Games to MMU, Sweeps Clarke in Home Opener

Cedar Rapids/Oskaloosa–The Statesmen softball team took its first league losses of the year Saturday, but bounced back to win both games as it began its home slate Sunday.

William Penn (11-9, 4-2 Heart) fell by scores of 5-4 and 9-8 against Heart of America Athletic Conference foe Mount Mercy Saturday, but then rebounded to defeat league opponent Clarke 4-1 and 4-2 Sunday.

Mount Mercy 5, WPU 4

Entering the bottom of the third inning in a scoreless tie, the Mustangs (12-8, 6-0 Heart) got on the board first with three runs.

The hosts then tacked on two more scores in the fifth. Still behind 5-0 after five frames, the Statesmen finally began to mount their comeback.

Nayely Martinez (So., Carson, Calif.) hit a two-run, two-out double in the sixth to plate Valeria Quiroga (Jr., Brownsville, Texas, Sociology) and Lexi Resa (Sr., Liberty, Mo., Biology). WPU then took advantage of two seventh-inning errors to get in position to possibly tie the game.

After one of those players was taken out on a force-out, Quiroga pulled the Statesmen within one on a two-run homer. Brianna Talamantes (Fr., San Pedro, Calif., Business Management) walked to put the tying run on base, but that run never came across in the opening-game setback.

William Penn was outhit 8-5, while both sides committed three errors. Allyson Stewart (Jr., Delta, B.C., Nursing) and Martinez tallied two hits each to top the visiting navy and gold. In addition to her home run, Quiroga drew three walks.

Only one of the five runs Peyton Parker (Sr., LaPorte City, Iowa, Sports Management) permitted through four innings was earned; she struck out three without a walk. Ashton Brown (So., Ottumwa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) relieved her and was perfect in two frames, including striking out three batters.

Mount Mercy 9, WPU 8

Roles reversed for the nightcap with the Statesmen taking the big lead, but unfortunately Mount Mercy’s completed its rally to post the sweep.

WPU managed the first three runs of the contest in the second, beginning with Carla La Rosa (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management) taking a bases-loaded hit by pitch to bring in Charley Geguzis (So., Williamsburg, Iowa). Abby Wilson (Jr., Calgary, Alberta, Biology) then singled home Martinez, while Kiana Young (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev., Exercise Science) touched home plate on a passed ball.

MMU answered with a run in the fourth, but then William Penn extended its advantage with a two-spot in the fifth. Pinchrunner Tianna Soto (Sr., Fontana, Calif.) scored on an error (four by MMU in the game), while Martinez’s single brought in Stewart.

The next two Mustang frames were detrimental to the Statesmen cause as they put three on the board in the fifth and four more in the sixth to put WPU behind 8-5.

William Penn stayed alive, however, by scoring three runs in the seventh. Martinez’s one-bagger brought in Stewart, while La Rosa singled home Geguzis. A fly ball into center field was dropped, allowing Martinez to tie the game.

Unfortunately, a double play ended the rally and then MMU finished its comeback with a run in the bottom of the seventh.

Despite being outhit 16-7, the Statesmen stayed relevant due to Mount Mercy’s fielding mistakes. Martinez paced the offense with two hits.

WPU 4, Clarke 1

Playing on its own field and in front of its home fans, the Statesmen took out some of the previous day’s frustration right away, scoring twice in the bottom of the first. Talamantes doubled home Resa, while Quiroga also scored later in the inning.

A third-inning error allowed Wilson to score, while Resa scored on a wild pitch.

That was more than enough support for starting pitcher Parker, who permitted just one run in the fourth inning. She scattered six hits in a complete-game effort, while striking out three and walking two.

William Penn was outhit 6-5 with five separate players tallying one hit each.

WPU 4, Clarke 2

The nightcap was a little more dicey as the Statesmen fell behind 1-0 after the top of the third inning. The hosts responded with all four of their runs in the bottom half, beginning with a tally via an error. Quiroga’s single then scored Wilson and La Rosa, while Stewart singled in Resa for the team’s final run.

Still up 4-1 heading to the final frame, the navy and gold ran into trouble as the Pride (6-8, 0-2 Heart) strung together three hits in a row to put the tying run at second base. Brown then took over for Chelsey Huff (Fr., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science) inside the circle and kept the visitors at bay, including striking out one to post the save.

Huff was strong through six innings, giving up two runs on six hits; she struck out four and walked five. Offensively, WPU again lost the hits battle 6-5 with five different individuals managing one base knock each.

Next Up: William Penn travels to Lamoni Tuesday to face Graceland in a Heart doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.