Peru, Neb.–Tabitha Scott (Fr., Placentia, Calif., Psychology) was the offensive star in the extra-inning opener and then produced in the pitching circle in the nightcap as the William Penn softball team swept Peru State in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Wednesday.
The Statesmen (16-23, 5-7 Heart) won by scores of 8-6 (10 innings) and 6-1.
Scott tallied four hits in the first game and then limited Peru State (10-32, 2-12 Heart) to just one run on five hits in the second contest as WPU snapped a four-game losing streak.
The freshman had a base knock in both of the first two innings (later scored in the first) to help the visitors to a 2-0 edge.
PSC tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, but the navy and gold reclaimed the advantage in the sixth on an RBI single by Scott. The home squad rallied, however, to take its first lead at 4-3 entering the seventh frame.
Starting pitcher Chyanne Koko (So., Waianae, Hawaii, Business Management) then helped out her own cause in the seventh by leading off with a double and scoring in the next at-bat to force extra action.
Two scoreless innings followed before the floodgates opened for William Penn in a four-run 10th inning. On an interesting sidenote, the frame started via the international tiebreaker with each team having a runner on second base and no outs.
Hayley Freestone (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management) started the rally with a lead-off RBI double, while Scott and Kodee Johnson (Jr., Stockton, Calif., General Mathematics) recorded run-scoring singles as well.
Peru State threatened in the bottom half, but fortunately only managed two runs to drop the matchup.
Scott was 4-for-6 with two RBIs, while Johnson, Koko, and Chelsee Herron (Sr., Anaheim, Calif., Elementary Education) finished with two hits apiece. Johnson and Kayla Browning (Jr. Spring Valley, Calif., Biology) matched Scott with two RBIs each. Nine different players produced a hit as WPU bested the Bobcats 15-14 in that category.
Koko, who left and re-entered the game, pitched a total of 9 2/3 innings, striking out five batters against three walks.
Unfortunately, the Statesmen failed to carry their momentum into the nightcap, trailing 1-0 after four innings of play. The visitors finally manufactured their first run on a Scott double that plated Breann Robertson (Fr., Rainier, Wash., Human Services and Sociology) to make the score 1-1.
For whatever reason, that hit seemed to ignite a fire under the squad as it erupted for five runs on seven hits in the sixth inning. Beginning with doubles by Koko and Freestone, William Penn recorded five consecutive hits to open the frame and pulled away from the Bobcats.
The seven hits ended up being half of WPU’s 14 as it nearly tripled PSC’s mark of five. Browning was 3-for-4, while Johnson, Herron, and Robertson all added two hits each. The balanced attack included six different players scoring one run.
Scott earned the win by striking out one (one walk) in a complete-game effort.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Des Moines Saturday to face Grand View in a Heart doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
Story provided by Wade Steinlage
