OSKALOOSA — The William Penn baseball team put up loads of runs Sunday as it completed the four-game sweep in its home opener over non-conference foe Presentation.

WPU (12-3) triumphed over the Saints by scores of 21-9 and 19-3.

The Statesmen nearly scored in every inning of the first game as Abraham Arroyo (So., Camuy, P.R., Wellness and Recreation) got things started with an RBI single in the first. The hits kept coming in the second inning for William Penn as Joel Holguin (So., San Bernardino, Calif., Sociology) led off with a double, before Trevor Dooley (Jr., Prole, Iowa, Computer Science) doubled to trade places with Holguin. The navy and gold plated two more runs in the inning, helping them get out to a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the third inning, the Statesmen tallied five more runs. Blair Speas (So., O’Fallon, Mo., Undecided) delivered an RBI single, while a couple batters later Nathan Jessell (Jr., Napa, Calif., Sociology) contributed with a two-run double.

The navy and gold did not let off the gas pedal in the fourth inning, tallying six runs, headlined by a two-run home run from Franklin Aparicio (Sr., Panama City, Panama, Business Management). WPU put up the same run total in the fifth inning as well, this time Leland Riley II (Fr., Victorville, Calif., Kinesiology) delivered the roundtripper with a grand slam to put the Statesmen up 21-0 entering the sixth inning.

Presentation had a huge seventh inning, pushing nine runs across, but it was too little and too late.

WPU outhit the Saints 17-4 in the first game with Arroyo leading the way with four hits and three RBIs. Riley finished with five RBIs, while Jessell had three hits, three RBIs, and five runs scored.  Holguin matched Jessell with three hits (two runs as well), while Speas touched home plate three times.

Brian Thomas (Jr., Shingle Springs, Calif., Sports Management) was strong through his four innings of work, striking out eight batters, while only allowing one hit and three free passes. Reece Umbarger (So., Overland Park, Kan., Business Management) came on in relief for Thomas in the fifth inning and shut the door on the Saints after giving up two walks.

After a dominant hitting performance in the first contest, the Statesmen kept it rolling in the nightcap, beginning with Riley connecting on his second home run of the day as William Penn got out to an early 4-0 lead. WPU plated three more runs in the second behind three RBI singles from Holguin, Dooley, and Johnson.

Ty Harter (So., Galesburg, Ill.,) was on the mound for the Statemen in game two, throwing two scoreless innings before the Saints tallied three runs to cut the William Penn lead down to four. The navy and gold responded quickly with two runs of their own, courtesy of RBI singles from George and Holguin that extended the Statesmen lead to 12-3.

William Penn produced three more runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run single from George. The home team was not done as the Statesmen posted seven more runs in the sixth, paced by a three-run bomb by Arroyo.

E.J. Roncone (Jr., Gurnee, Ill., Sports Management) took over on the mound in the fifth inning for Harter and completely shut down the Presentation batters, allowing no hits while also striking out five batters in three innings of work to collect the save.

In four innings of work, Harter allowed three runs on four hits and four walks, while striking out three batters.

George guided the offense a 5-for-5 with three RBIs and four runs.  Dooley was also perfect at 4-for-4 with a pair of runs and a pair of RBIs.  Holguin, with three hits and three RBIs, and Johnson, with two hits and three RBIs, were also big contributors.  Jessell scored three runs as well.

“It was great to get four wins and get some of the younger guys some experience,” said Head Coach Mike Laird. “The guys maintained their intensity throughout the series, and now we have to get ready for a very strong Park team.”

Next Up: The Statesmen will head down to Parkville, Mo. next Saturday and Sunday to open Heart of America Athletic Conference play in a four-game series against Park. The first game is slated for 1 p.m. both days.