Fort Worth, Texas–The Statesmen softball team did some good things and some not so good things this weekend as it began the 2017 campaign at the Cowtown Classic Fridayand Saturday.
WPU (2-3) opened Friday with a 4-3 win over McPherson, but then fell 3-1 to William Woods. The Statesmen concluded the day with a 4-2 victory against Bellevue. On Saturday, WPU was defeated 7-4 by York and 2-1 by Concordia (Neb.).
The navy and gold pitched well with a 2.12 Earned Run Average, but the inexperienced crew could not overcome some struggles at the plate (.228) and in the field (14 errors).
WPU 4, McPherson 3
Both teams put a run on the board in the first inning, but then William Penn tacked on two more in the third. The Bulldogs answered with one in the bottom of the third and another in the fifth.
Fortunately in the end, the Statesmen, who matched MC with six hits, came away victorious with the go-ahead run in the sixth.
Kacey Lutz (Lodi, Calif., Physical Education) had the big effort with a 3-for-3 debut. Taylor Vernon (Jr., Tracy, Calif., Ripon HS) finished 2-for-3, while Michelle Castro (Acampo, Calif., Business Management) rounded the bases twice in her first collegiate game.
WPU went with a trio of hurlers in the season opener. Dalaney Bice (Fr., Woodward, Iowa, Human Services & Psychology) had the most success, but it was Jenny Navarro(Jr., Bellflower, Calif., Elementary Education) who claimed the win. Bice tossed two scoreless innings (one strikeout, one walk), while Navarro permitted one unearned run in two frames (one strikeout). Brittany Ensley (Fr., Harrisburg, Ore., Exercise Science) started the matchup and went three innings with two Ks and one BB.
William Woods 3, WPU 1
The Statesmen again scored first against the Owls when Castro hit a lead-off double and was then brought around on a single by Emily Brown (Jr., Waverly, Iowa, Biology). Unfortunately, WPU could not come up with any more run support for pitcher Katie Springer (So., Riverside, Iowa, Undecided).
WWU tied the game in the third and went ahead for good in the fourth with a pair of scores. WPU was outhit 11-5 and committed four fielding mistakes.
Kodee Johnson (Sr., Stockton, Calif., General Mathematics) paced the offense with two hits, while Springer struck out four without a walk in six innings of work. Only one of the three runs she allowed was earned.
WPU 4, Bellevue 2
William Penn was on the short end of the hits column at 10-6, but came up with the big ones when needed, leading to two runs in the sixth to break a 2-2 tie.
Esthefany Martinez (Jr., Hacienda Heights, Calif., Business Management) touched home plate twice in the win.
Bice scattered the Bruins’ hits well, working out of a few jams to collect her first win at the college ranks. The freshman managed seven strikeouts (no walks) in a complete game.
York 7, WPU 4
WPU drove in two in the first to match the Panthers’ tally, but failed to keep pace in a game that witnessed the navy and gold being outhit 12-6. Vernon drove in both first-inning runs.
Spring struck out four in a 3 1/3-inning start, while Ensley added another strikeout in 3 2/3 frames of relief.
Concordia (Neb.) 2, WPU 1
Despite making five errors, the Statesmen still had a chance to finish above .500 for the weekend. WPU had two runners on in the seventh, but were unable to produce the tying run.
Both programs recorded eight hits in the game with Castro, Brown, and Johnson all finishing with two base knocks.
Bice concluded a busy weekend with another six innings in the circle. She did not permit an earned run and walked only one Bulldog batter (no strikeouts).
Next Up: William Penn takes a week off before traveling to Batesville, Ark. on February 24-25 to face Lyon in a pair of non-conference doubleheaders. Both twinbills start at noon.
Story provided by Wade Steinlage
