WPU Opens Spring Break Being Swept by Dordt
William Penn University Athletics
Tucson, Ariz.–The Statesmen baseball team had a slow start to its spring break trip Saturday as it was swept by Dordt in a non-conference doubleheader.
William Penn (5-5) lost by scores of 4-3 (8 innings) and 8-3.
The Statesmen began the day with a run in the bottom of the first, but the Defenders (2-4) answered with three separate one-run innings and held a 3-1 edge entering WPU’s last at-bats in the seventh.
The navy and gold refused to go down easily, though, as Villegas both drove in a run and also scored one to tie the game and forced extra innings. Unfortunately, Dordt scored in the top half and WPU could not keep pace to take the loss.
Felipe Hernandez (Jr., North Hollywood, Calif., Sociology) tossed 7 1/3 strong frames, permitting just two earned runs on six hits. The junior, who was saddled with the loss, struck out four and walked two batters.
Each squad managed seven hits with Anthony Aguila (Jr., Highland, Calif., Kinesiology) and Tyler Raskin (Sr., Vancouver, Wash., Business Management) both finishing 2-for-4. Julian Villegas (Jr., Wilmington, Calif., Sociology) crossed home plate twice.
The Statesmen again scored first in the nightcap with a run in the second when T.J. Murphy (Jr., Woodenville, Wash., Exercise Science) cleared the fence with a solo shot; it was his first home run of the year. DC matched WPU with a run of its own in the third, but WPU recaptured the advantage with two tallies in the top of the fourth frame. Dominik Sawyer (Sr., Chula Vista, Calif., Psychology and Human Services) drove in both runs on a single.
Unfortunately, Dordt, which was outhit 8-7 by William Penn, put a seven spot on the board in the fifth to complete the sweep.
Murphy finished 3-for-3 with a pair of runs, while Fabian Gutierrez (Jr., Selah, Wash., Communications) was 2-for-3. D.J. Milam (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Business Management) recorded three strikeouts (one walk) in a start that spanned 4 2/3 innings.
Next Up: William Penn faces two separate opponents Sunday, first meeting Winnipeg at 10 a.m. and then taking on Dakota Wesleyan at 1:30 p.m. (CST).
