KANSAS CITY, MO. — The William Penn baseball team found enough offense in its last two games of its Kansas City trip to secure a split and also help its head coach record another milestone Monday.
WPU (8-3) defeated Saint Mary (Kan.) 8-6 and Kansas Christian 3-2.
WPU 8, Saint Mary (Kan.) 6
After both teams went down scoreless in the first inning, the Spires got out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. The Statesmen bats finally got going in the third as they posted five runs. Nick George (Jr., Sarina, Ontario, Sociology) provided the biggest hit with a two-run double, while Nathan Jessell (Sr., Napa, Calif., Sociology) singled to score George. Justin Martinez (Sr., Bronx, N.Y. Sports Management) got in on the action as well with a double of his own which plated Jessell.
The navy and gold kept the offense running hot with one run in both the fourth and fifth frames. Unfortunately, USM responded with a big sixth inning, posting five runs to draw within one at 7-6.
WPU refused to give up the lead, however, tacking on an insurance run in the sixth inning.
Brian Thomas (Jr., Shingle Springs, Calif., Sports Management) worked four innings for the navy and gold in the win, giving up three earned runs and striking out four. E.J. Roncone (Jr., Gurnee, Ill., Sports Management) came on in relief halfway through the fourth and gave up just one earned run through three frames of work.
William Penn overcame being outhit 11-9. Franklin Aparicio (Sr., Panama City, Panama, Business Management) led the offense with three hits and two runs, while Jessell added two base knocks and an RBI. George and Martinez both tallied two RBIs as well. George also scored twice in the win.
WPU 3, Kansas Christian 2
A leadoff walk by Tim Jean (Sr., Libertyville, Ill., Public Accounting) followed by a single from George put the navy and gold in a good position in the bottom of the first against KCC. Leland Riley II (Fr., Victorville, Calif., Kinesiology) then delivered the big hit on a double to get the Statesmen out to a 2-0 advantage.
The Falcons responded quickly, however, scoring one run in both the second and third innings to tie the game at 2-2. After giving up two runs in the previous innings, Ty Harter (So., Galesburg, Ill.) shut down KCC in the fourth to keep the contest knotted up.
With the game still tied at 2-2 in the sixth, Riley II reached on an error that allowed Abraham Arroyo (So., Camuy, P.R., Wellness and Recreation) to advance to third and Riley II to second. A couple pitches later, the Statesmen took back the lead for good on a passed ball.
Matt Shover (Grad., Barry, Ill., Master’s of Sports Management), who took the mound in the fifth in relief of Harter, then struck out two batters in the top of the seventh en route to the win.
As the starter, Harter permitted two runs on seven hits, while walking four and striking out one, while Riley II produced one hit that contributed to two runs for the Statesmen. The navy and gold won despite being outhit 9-4.
The win helped Head Coach Mike Laird net his 1,100th victory. The skipper, who is in his 41st season at the helm, currently owns a career record of 1,100-624-3 (.638 winning pct.).
