WPU Swept by Warner in Florida Debut
William Penn Women’s Athletics
Lake Wales, Fla.–It was a tough start to William Penn’s Florida segment of Spring Break as the Statesmen softball team was swept by Warner in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday.
William Penn (3-4) lost to the Royals (2-4-1) by scores of 7-5 and 8-7.
The Statesmen broke a scoreless tie in the opener with two third-inning runs, highlighted by an RBI double from Bri Zerley (Sr., Monroe, Iowa, Biology). The senior finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
The Royals answered back with four runs in the bottom half, but the visitors battled to take the lead back once more with one in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Brittanee Grove (Sr., Runnells, Iowa, Elementary Education) singled in the fourth-frame tally, while Zerley picked up three bases on her fifth-inning RBI.
Unfortunately, Warner had the final say with three runs in the bottom of the sixth and held on for the victory.
The Statesmen were outhit 9-8 with Grove and Chyanne Koko (Fr., Waianae, Hawaii, Business Management) each going 2-for-4 as well.
Due to two fielding errors, WPU hurler Lunden Young (Sr., Lewiston, Idaho, Physical Education) gave up just four earned runs, while managing two strikeouts against two walks. She is now 2-2 on the season.
It was a similar story in the nightcap, but this time the Royals scored first with two in the first and three more in the second. Trailing 5-1 entering the third, WPU switched positions with its hosts with four runs, paced by a two-run double from Zerley. Gabrielle Braniff (So., Olympia, Wash., General Accounting), who also had a run-scoring double in the second, singled home a teammate in the fourth as did Jorden Steele (Sr., Tacoma, Wash., Physical Education).
The Royals went back up with two in the bottom half to make it 7-5, but William Penn struck again in the sixth as Grove (triple) and Chelsee Herron (Jr., Anaheim, Calif., Elementary Education) (single) each brought around a Statesmen runner.
Once again, though, the hosts got one last word in with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth to finish off the sweep.
The nightcap featured an 11-7 edge in hits by WPU, but also five errors that permitted WU to score five unearned runs. Grove started the contest, but last only one inning, while Paige Miguel (Jr., Hollister, Calif., Exercise Science) entered in relief and had a solid outing. The freshman, who took the loss (0-1), gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits (1 K, 1 BB).
Zerley had identical numbers in the second matchup (2-for-3, two RBIs, two runs), while Braniff (two RBIs) and Sydney Edwards (Sr., Galesburg, Ill., Psychology & Biology) were also 2-for-4. Koko matched Zerley with two runs scored.
Next Up: William Penn visits Babson Park, Fla. on Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader against Webber International beginning at 1 p.m. (CST).
