Zerley, Lucero Go Deep as WPU Splits Double Dip with Ashford
William Penn Women’s Athletics
Oskaloosa–The William Penn softball team produced two home runs in the nightcap, but came up just short of sweeping Ashford in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday.
William Penn (31-17) won the opener 3-1, but dropped the second game 3-2.
Sollita Lucero (Sr., Denver, Colo., Human Services/Sociology), earning starts late in the year due to injuries, continues to take advantage of her opportunity. The senior put the hosts on the board with a double in the fourth to score Jessica Christensen (Fr., Marysville, Wash., Sociology). It was her third consecutive double, dating back to Thursday’s second contest.
Diana Cassaro (So., Las Vegas, Nev., Undecided) scored later in the inning on one of the two errors committed by the Saints (23-21).
Ashford split the margin in half in the fifth, but a double by Sonia Ray (Jr., San Diego, Calif., Physical Education) brought around Lucero for an insurance run in the sixth.
Lucero led WPU with a 3-for-3 showing, while Ray and Christensen were both 2-for-3. The navy and gold outhit the visitors 9-6.
Jennifer Whitehead (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Biology) allowed runners in scoring position in the first, third, and fifth frames, but fortunately worked out of trouble to improve her season mark to 14-9. The junior struck out seven with three walks.
The Saints were first to get on the board in Game 2 with a run in the top half of the first, but Bri Zerley (So., Monroe, Iowa, Biology) tied up the matchup with her third home run of the year–a solo shot in the second.
The teams exchanged runs once again with Ashford first scoring in the third. Lucero then answered with her first home run at WPU, another solo roundtripper in the fifth to even things at 2-2.
Ashford had the final say, however, with one run in the seventh, and the team that held an 8-5 edge in hits picked up the win.
Carly Land (Sr., Mission Viejo, Calif., Education) fell to 17-8 in a contest in which she struck out five and walked three.
Next: William Penn hosts #11 Saint Xavier (Ill.) Sunday in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m. The twinbill will also serve as Senior Day as the eight-member Class of 2013 will be recognized.
