WPU Wins Three at Baker Tournament

Kansas City, Kan.–The Statesmen baseball team sorted some things out over the weekend as it won three out of four games at the Baker Wildcat Classic Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, William Penn (5-6) defeated Doane (Neb.) 9-1 and Morningside 7-4. Then on Sunday, the Statesmen dropped Jamestown (N.D.) 7-6 before falling 8-2 to Dakota State (S.D.).

WPU 9, Doane 1

The navy and gold, who held an 11-5 edge in hits, posted multiple runs in three separate frames, including four in the third.

Nathan Jessell (Jr., Napa, Calif., Sociology) put his team on the board in the top of the second by coming home on a wild pitch. A bit later, Hector Dominguez (So., Fontana, Calif., Exercise Science) also hit the plate off of an error by the Tigers.

Nick George (Sr., Sarina, Ontario, Sociology) doubled in Blair Speas (Jr., O’Fallon, Mo., New Media) to start the big third inning. Abraham Arroyo (Jr., Camuy, P.R., Wellness and Recreation) then rounded the pads before Dominguez cleared the right-field fence, also driving in George on the home run.

A fourth-inning balk brought in pinchrunner Adrian Ayala (Fr.,. Omaha, Neb., Exercise Science) in the fourth, while fifth-inning singles from Froymer Ortega (Jr., Tallahassee, Fla., Wellness and Recreation) and Aiden North (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Industrial Technology) scored Arroyo and George, respectively.

The run support was more than enough for Brian Thomas (Sr., Shingle Springs, Calif., Sports Management), who tossed six strong innings for the victory. The senior permitted just one run on four hits, while striking out six and walking four.

Seven different batters tallied a hit in the weekend’s opener, led by the quartet of George, Dominguez, North, and Zach Otten (Jr., Mapleton, Ill.) who had two apiece. Dominguez tacked on a walk as well.

The trio of Arroyo, George, and Dominguez each also scored twice.

WPU 7, Morningside 4

William Penn again hit the ball well with nine hits, but had to overcome the fact that the Mustangs also produced at the plate with 10 base knocks.

MU went on top 2-0 after the top of the first, but the navy and gold responded with a tally in the bottom half.

The Statesmen then exploded in the bottom of the second, posting a single-inning season-high six runs, beginning with a solo home run from Arroyo. Dominguez then singled to plate George, while pinch-hitter Joel Holguin (Jr., San Bernardino, Calif., Sociology) drove in Domiguez and Ortega on a one-bagger.

A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch of Arroyo scored Adrian Ayala, while George drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in Holguin.

Morningside chipped away at the advantage with one run in both the fourth and the sixth, but could not catch WPU.

Otten, Arroyo, and Ortega all managed two hits, while George and Speas both walked twice as well.

Abel Madueno (Jr., San Bernardino, Calif., Business Management) went the distance as the Statesmen hurler. All four of the runs he allowed were earned on the 10 MU hits, but the junior also sent 10 batters to the dugout on strikes (two walks).

WPU 7, Jamestown 6

Another big frame helped propel William Penn to its third-consecutive win. Dominguez singled home George and Arroyo in the top of the first, but the Jimmies got both runs back in the third inning.

The Statesmen then went to work for five runs in the fourth, beginning with a bases-loaded base on balls of Holguin that scored Dominguez. Adrian Ayala and Ortega later scored on batted balls, but it was Arroyo’s double (scoring Otten and Speas) that served as the monumental play of the game.

UJ slowly battled back and had the tying run just 90 feet away at third base, but Bret Whiffen (Sr., Green Bay, Wis., Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management) locked down the save by inducing a flyout to end the game.

Keke Romero (So., Mesa, Ariz., Business Management) went 3 2/3 frames (two strikeouts) as the starter, but did not figure into the decision. Whiffen was bumped around a bit, but stood tall at the end for the positive result. The senior allowed two earned runs on two hits over three bullpen innings; he recorded one strikeout and two walks.

Arroyo was 3-for-4 with two RBIs to pace WPU, while Dominguez went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. George, who posted one hit, again drew two walks, while Jessell finished with one base knock and one walk.

Dakota State 8, WPU 2

WPU ran out of firepower in its weekend finale, getting outhit 14-6 by the Trojans. DSU scored five in the second and three more insurance runs in the seventh, while the navy and gold their damage in the third.

Otten singled in Adrian Ayala, while George’s one-bagger brought in Speas.

Speas had the best performance at the dish with a pair of hits.

Four William Penn hurlers toed the rubber in the loss with Holguin posting the best numbers. The senior permitted just one base knock in two scoreless innings.

“It was good to win three games this weekend, including defeating a Doane team that is receiving votes nationally,” Head Coach Mike Laird said. “Our pitching and hitting unfortunately dropped off in the last game, but we definitely regained some confidence.”

Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa to host a non-conference triangular Friday, facing Judson at 1 p.m. and Midland at 3:30 p.m. Judson and Midland will face off in a neutral-site game at 10:30 a.m.