WPU Loses Pair of One-Run Contests
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen softball team showed heart with a pair of a late-inning rallies against non-conference foe Ashford, but was unable to finish off either contest Tuesday.
William Penn (14-23) lost by scores of 2-1 (8 innings) and 5-4.
The home team started slowly against the Saints (21-19), recording just one hit through four innings. In the fifth, the navy and gold produced a great threat by loading the bases with no outs. Unfortunately, WPU failed to bring anyone in and the contest remained scoreless.
AU broke the tie in the top of the sixth, but William Penn forced extra innings with an equalizing run in the seventh. Relief pitcher Elizabeth Whitaker (Jr., Azalea, Ore., Exercise Science) opened the inning with a walk and was later brought in on a single by Kodee Johnson (Jr., Stockton, Calif., General Mathematics).
The Saints had the final say, however, scoring again in the eighth, and the hosts did not answer. Each program tallied five hits in the opener. Starting hurler Chyanne Koko (So., Waianae, Hawaii, Business Management) threw well in five frames, striking out five against two walks, while Whitaker (two Ks, one BB) took the loss in three innings of work.
The visitors again got on the scoreboard first in the second matchup, scoring three times in the second. The Statesmen drew to within two in the third when Breann Robertson (Fr., Rainier, Wash., Human Services and Sociology) led off with a single and later touched home plate.
Ashford got that run back in the fourth and its 4-1 advantage held until the sixth. The best inning of the night was then posted as WPU recorded four hits, including three doubles by Koko, Robertson, and Siarra Velasquez (Sr., Carter Lake, Iowa, Biology), to knot the score at 4-4.
Unfortunately, just as they did in the first outing, the Saints scored in the final inning and no response came out of the William Penn camp.
Velasquez, Robertson, and Jarrah Jensen (Jr., Blakesburg, Iowa, Physical Education) all concluded the game 2-for-3 at the plate as the Statesmen owned a 10-8 edge in hits. The crew struggled in the field, though, committing four errors which led to neither of the runs against Whitaker being earned. The junior had four strikeouts with three walks in four innings out of the bullpen.
Tabitha Scott (Fr., Placentia, Calif., Psychology) battled through three innings in the start.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Peru, Neb. Thursday to face Peru State in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader at 1 p.m.
