WPU Tripped Up in Season-Opening Doubleheader
Lindsborg, Kan.–The Statesmen softball team gave its opening-day opponent all it could handle, but fell a bit short in both battles as it was swept by Bethany (Kan.) in a non-conference doubleheader Sunday.
William Penn (0-2) lost by scores of 2-1 and 7-5 to the Swedes (5-5), who are receiving votes nationally and coming off a season where they reached the NAIA World Series.
The hosts, who tallied a 5-2 edge in hits in the opener, got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the second frame.
Abby Wilson (Jr., Calgary, Alberta, Biology) then knotted the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth, leading off the inning with a bunt single. She was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lexi Resa (Sr., Liberty, Mo., Biology) and eventually scored on a throwing error by BC.
Unfortunately, the Swedes had the last say with a go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth. The Statesmen put a runner on base in both the sixth and seventh frames, but neither could come around with the tying run.
Peyton Parker (Sr., LaPorte City, Iowa, Sports Management) posted a strong outing in the pitching circle, striking out five against two walks in the complete game, but the visitors could not give her much in ways of run support, including not being able to advantage of three Bethany errors.
Allyson Stewart (Jr., Delta, B.C., Nursing) matched Wilson with a hit in the opening-game setback.
After being limited to just two hits in the first contest, William Penn figured some things out at the plate, posting a 9-6 edge in hits in the nightcap. Unfortunately, the Statesmen struggled in the field with four errors (two for the Swedes).
BC again scored the first run of the contest, posting one in the bottom of the first, but the navy and gold responded with a three-spot in the top of the second. Brianna Talamantes (Fr., San Pedro, Calif., Business Management) led off the frame with a single and scored three batters later on an RBI single by Jayde Tucker (Sr., Los Alamos, N.M., Sociology).
Stewart followed with a double to plate Tucker and La Rosa brought in Stewart with a single of her own. Carla La Rosa (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management) almost gave WPU a 4-1 edge, but was thrown out at home plate.
The Swedes, though, bounced right back with their own three-run second frame. In what turned into a back-and-forth battle for a little while, both teams then tacked on one run each in the third inning.
Valeria Quiroga (Jr., Brownsville, Texas, Sociology) accounted for William Penn’s score with her first home run of the campaign in the third.
Trailing 5-4 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Statesmen deficit stretched to three as Bethany managed two more runs.
The visiting crew had a last-ditch effort in the top of the sixth, but could only muster one run as Charley Geguzis (So., Williamsburg, Iowa) came in on a BC error.
Seven Statesmen managed a base knock in the loss, including two by Tucker and Stewart.
Chelsey Huff (Fr., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science) worked four innings as the starter, striking out seven with a pair of walks. Bianca Castillo (Jr., Rio Rico, Ariz.) then kept it close in relief, pitching two scoreless frames with a pair of Ks.
“Peyton Parker pitched well in the first game and had good defense behind her, but unfortunately we struggled hitting,” Head Coach Mike Christner said. “We then adjusted well at the plate in the second game, but our defense had issues. We will try to put it all together tomorrow.”
Next Up: William Penn travels to McPherson, Kan. Monday to face McPherson in a non-conference twinbill starting at 11 a.m.
