Statesmen Defeat Eagles, Fall to Warriors in Second Day of Tripleheader Action

Oskaloosa--The William Penn baseball team split a pair of non-conference games Saturday as it hosted another non-conference tripleheader with Judson (Ill.) and Midland (Neb.).

WPU (8-7) won the opener 8-7 over Judson, but fell in the nightcap 5-1 to Midland.

Despite being outhit 10-7 and committing two errors, the navy and gold led 2-0 after four frames against the Eagles (1-10).

Nick George (Sr., Sarina, Ontario, Sociology) recorded a solo home run over the center field fence in the first inning, and Froymer Ortega (Jr., Tallahassee, Fla., Wellness and Recreation) drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth that brought in Zach Otten (Jr., Mapleton, Ill.).

JU cut the margin in half in the top of the fifth, but the hosts got it right back and then some in the bottom half as George singled home Andres Pineda (So., Colombia, Business Management), while Justin Martinez (Sr., Bronx, N.Y., Sports Management) drove in Otten on another one-bagger to expand the edge to 4-1.

Unfortunately, the Eagles had a much bigger rally up their sleeves, putting five on the board in the top of the sixth to go on top 6-4.  Once again, however, the Statesmen, guided by George, produced an answer.  With the bases packed, George cleared them with a double.

Otten tacked on an insurance run with a single to plate George to flip the script for an 8-6 edge.

William Penn nearly the surrendered the lead one more time, but Harter entered out of the bullpen and squashed the rally as he induced a bases-loaded groundout to end the game.

George, who was 3-for-3 with five RBIs and two runs (one walk as well), also served as the home team's starting pitcher.  He produced a competent outing, giving up four runs (all earned) on four hits in 5 1/3 innings.  The senior struck out eight Eagles and walked just one.

Ty Harter (Jr., Galesburg, Ill., Business Management) competed in one inning for the save, giving up one hit and one walk in the save.

In direct opposition to the first game of the day, the navy and gold held an 8-7 advantage in hits against the Warriors, but came out on the losing end, snapping the squad's three-game winning streak.

Taking advantage of an error, Midland (10-4) scored three runs in the first and never trailed in the matchup.

Holvin Catala (Jr., New London, Iowa, Wellness and Recreation) then accounted for WPU's only run, trimming the deficit to 3-1 with a single in the bottom of the second that brought around Aiden North (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Industrial Technology).

The Statesmen put runners on the bases in every frame, including loading the pads in the fifth, but failed to make another dent against MU.  Conversely, the visitors gave themselves some breathing room by adding one run each in the fifth and sixth innings.

North ended the nightcap 3-for-4 at the plate, while Catala was 2-for-3.  Brian Thomas (Sr., Shingle Springs, Calif., Sports Management) struck out six in 5 2/3 frames as William Penn's starter, while Harter tallied two strikeouts in relief as well.

"We did not play well and are probably fortunate to get one win today," Head Coach Mike Laird said.  "Our pitchers kept us in the games, but we stranded countless runners on base and had some poor defensive support.  Nick George and Aiden North both hit the ball well."

Next Up: William Penn remains in Oskaloosa next Saturday to host Central Methodist in its Heart of America Athletic Conference-opening doubleheader at 1 p.m.