Homers Lead WPU to Road Sweep of Yellowjackets

Lamoni--The William Penn softball team were in need a perfect day and got it Saturday as it swept Graceland for its first Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep in nearly a month.

WPU (15-25, 7-11 Heart) won by scores of 7-3 and 8-4 (8 innings).  The sweep is the squad's first since taking down Benedictine twice on March 24.

The Statesmen outhit the Yellowjackets 7-6 in the opener, but struggled out of the gate as they trailed 3-0 after the third inning.

Amber Shotts (Fr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Mathematics) then swung the momentum in the favor of the visitors with a three-run home run in the top of the fourth that also plated Valeria Quiroga (Sr., Brownsville, Texas, Sociology) and Chelsey Huff (So., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science).  It was the start of seven unanswered runs by William Penn, all done off of roundtrippers.

Charley Geguzis (Jr., Williamsburg, Iowa, Business Management) left the park a few batters later, also bringing in Kiana Young (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev., Exercise Science) on the shot to cap a five-run fourth frame.

Quiroga put a bow on the game, launching a two-run home run.

Quiroga led the navy and gold by going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIS, while Shotts drove in three runs.  Huff claimed the win in a complete-game effort as she gave up three runs on six hits, while striking out 11 batters.

Graceland once again scored first in the nightcap, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning.  Huff continued her all-around excellent day, driving a ball over the fence for a three-run homer in the fourth.

Shotts also departed the field in the third, this time a solo shot to push the visitors to a 4-1 advantage.  Graceland unfortunately answered in the fifth inning and tied the contest at 4-4.

Things stayed tied and proceeded into extra innings.  Sarah Gallivan (Sr., Round Lake, Ill., Secondary Education) finally got things going again in the top of the eighth, recording the go-ahead single to bring in Shiloh Cunningham (Sr., Lynnville, Sully, Biology). Geguzis then reached on an error to score Shotts, while Gallivan herself touched home plate on a wild pitch.  Abby Wilson (Sr., Calgary, Alberta, Biology) concluded the big frame with a single to score Geguzis for an 8-4 edge.

William Penn held a 9-8 advantage in hits with Huff, Shotts, and Young each tallying two base knocks.

Huff struck out two in the bottom of the eighth to finish the sweep; the sophomore tallied seven strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of relief.  Emily Bryant (Jr., University Place, Wash., Nursing) tossed five innings as the starter, permitting four runs on eight hits (one strikeout).

"The ladies played great in very tough conditions," said Head Coach Mike Christner.  "They competed throughout and never gave up. We did a great job today and look forward to getting back at it tomorrow."

Next up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Sunday to host Grand View in a Heart doubleheader at 1 p.m.