WPU Starts Year with Pair of Tight Losses
Leavenworth, Kan.–The Statesmen baseball team was in contention both times on Opening Day, but could not come up with the timely hits in two non-conference losses Friday.
William Penn (0-2) fell 4-2 to host Saint Mary and then dropped a 7-5 decision to Dordt in eight innings.
The Spires opened the scoring with a run in the first inning, but the navy and gold answered in the third frame. Nick George (Sr., Sarina, Ontario, Sociology) started the rally with a one-out single to left field and then moved up on a USM error. The senior eventually scored on a single to left by Justin Martinez (Sr., Bronx, N.Y., Sports Management) to knot the score at 1-1.
The home team immediately recaptured the advantage, though, with three tallies in the bottom half of the third.
WPU then pulled to within one in the top of the fifth when Martinez tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly by Leland Riley II (Jr., Victorville, Calif., Sports Management). Unfortunately, the Statesmen, who outhit the Spires 9-5, were unable to scratch across any additional runs in the season-opening setback.
Martinez, Nathan Jessell (Jr., Napa, Calif., Sociology), and Hector Dominguez (So., Fontana, Calif., Exercise Science) each managed two-hit outings; Martinez also walked once. Riley and Abraham Arroyo (Jr., Camuy, P.R., Wellness and Recreation) also reached base twice with a hit and a base on balls, while Andres Pineda (So., Colombia, Business Management) got on twice via walks.
Starting pitcher Brian Thomas (Sr., Shingle Springs, Calif., Sports Management) was solid through 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits. He struck out seven and walked three in the losing cause.
“Brian Thomas had a tough third inning, but overall pitched well enough to win,” Head Coach Mike Laird said. “We unfortunately stranded too many runners and did not get very many timely hits.”
The Statesmen jumped out ahead in the day’s second bout, scoring twice in the first frame against the Defenders. Jessell provided the power with a two-run double to left field that plated Martinez and Arroyo.
DU replied with three unanswered runs to lead 3-2 after the top of the fourth inning. William Penn went back ahead in the bottom half, though, as Aiden North (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Industrial Technology) doubled home Marco Ayala (So., San Francisco, Calif., New Media), while Pineda scored North on a one-bagger.
The lead again changed hands in an exciting seventh inning as Dordt scored twice to go up 5-4. Fortunately, the navy and gold still had some fight in them and forced extra innings with a Jessell single that brought Pineda around.
The eighth inning did not go WPU’s way, however, as the Defenders scored twice and the Statesmen could not respond.
William Penn lost the hits battle 10-7 and also committed three defensive miscues.
Jessell finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Blair Speas (Jr., O’Fallon, Mo., New Media) also notched a pair of base knocks. Dominguez drew two walks as well.
Three pitchers stepped onto the mound for the navy and gold with starter Abel Madueno (Jr., San Bernardino, Calif., Business Management) leading the trio. He tossed six frames and permitted just one earned run (three total) on six hits, while striking out four and walking two.
“We had a poor showing on defense against Dordt,” Laird said. “That and some pitch location issues did us in. Nathan Jessell was strong all day at the plate.”
Next Up: William Penn remains in Leavenworth, Kan. Saturday to face the same opponents. The Statesmen meet up with Dordt at 10 a.m. and Saint Mary at 3 p.m.
