WPU Splits Second Doubleheader Versus Clarke
Peosta–A huge seven-run inning helped the Statesmen baseball team secure another split of a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against Clarke Saturday.
William Penn (14-17, 6-10 Heart) dropped the opener 5-0, but rebounded to win the nightcap 10-4.
The squads combined for 11 hits in the first contest (four for WPU), but were locked in a scoreless tie entering the bottom of the sixth inning. The Pride (14-18, 9-7 Heart) then finally figured out the navy and gold pitching, tallying all five of their runs in the sixth.
Unfortunately, the Statesmen, who had runners on base in all seven frames, failed with produce a response in the setback.
Justin Martinez (Sr., Bronx, N.Y., Sports Management) was his squad’s most-prolific hitter, managing a hit and a walk, while Nick George (Sr., Sarina, Ontario, Sociology) posted a double.
Brian Thomas (Sr., Shingle Springs, Calif., Sports Management) had a great outing going through five innings, but could not get out of the sixth unscathed. He tossed 5 2/3 frames, permitting five runs (three earned) on seven hits. The senior struck out six and walked one.
William Penn continued to be stymied offensively through the first two frames of the nightcap, while CU pulled out to a 3-0 advantage.
That all changed in the third inning as the visitors exploded to the tune of seven runs. The Statesmen had just four hits in the third, but took advantage of three walks and two hit-by-pitches.
George and Zach Otten (Jr., Mapleton, Ill.) managed run-scoring singles, while Aiden North (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Industrial Technology) drove in two on a double. Martinez scored a run on a bases-loaded walk, and Andres Pineda (So., Cartagena, Colombia, Business Management) did the same on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.
The Pride trimmed the margin to three in the bottom of the third, but Pineda pushed the edge back to four with an RBI single in the fourth.
The visitors put the game away in the seventh as Martinez and Hector Dominguez (So., Fontana, Calif., Exercise Science) both recorded run-scoring one-baggers.
WPU won although it was outhit 11-9. North led the charge with a 3-for-4 showing, while Otten (two hits, one walk) was next. Dominguez and Martinez, with one base knock and two bases on balls apiece, also found a plethora of success at the plate.
Bret Whiffen (Sr., Green Bay, Wis., Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management) scattered nine hits in four frames as the starter. He only permitted four runs and struck out two.
Ty Harter (Jr., Galesburg, Ill., Business Management) entered in the fifth and earned a three-inning save, striking out three (one walk) in three scoreless frames of relief (two hits).
The Statesmen actually could have done much more damage as they left 10 on base in the victory.
“Brian Thomas had a gutty performance on the bump, but our offense unfortunately did not help him out in the first game,” Head Coach Mike Laird said. “Bret Whiffen and Ty Harter combined for a nice win with Ty being spot-on in relief. We had several strong showings at the plate.”
Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa next Friday to host MidAmerica Nazarene in a Heart doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
