Wilson’s Six Hits Leads WPU to Split Vs. Culver-Stockton

Oskaloosa--Abby Wilson (Sr., Calgary, Alberta, Nursing) was on expert mode with her bat Tuesday in getting on base six times as the William Penn softball team split a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader with Culver-Stockton Tuesday.

The Statesmen (15-21, 4-8 Heart) won the opener 5-2, but dropped the nightcap 8-4.

The hosts, who held a slight 11-10 advantage in hits, led from the start in the first game and held off the Wildcats (13-25, 4-10 Heart).

WPU came out on fire with its first six batters reaching base.  Nayely Martinez (Sr., Carson, Calif., Business Management) drove in Laila Smith (Fr., Olympia, Wash., Elementary Education) with a single, while Peyton Naranjo (Fr., Ripon, Calif., Biology) also singled, pushing home both Wilson and Chelsey Huff (Jr., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science) as the navy and gold grabbed a 3-0 lead and forced C-SC's starting pitcher to the bench.

Wilson then singled in the second to bring in Smith.  The senior finished 4-for-4 with a stolen base in the opener.

The Wildcats clawed back into the game with one run in both the fifth and sixth frames, but Wilson added a little insurance as her single in the bottom of the sixth plated Charley Geguzis (Sr., Williamsburg, Iowa, Business Management) to cap the game's scoring.

In addition to Wilson, Martinez was also perfect at 3-for-3, while Smith ended up 2-for-4.

Huff allowed just two runs as she scattered 10 hits in her start.  The junior managed three strikeouts against one walk.

"We came together and did what we need to do to win games," Head Coach Laura North said.  "Chelsey Huff pitched well, our defense made plays, and we hit the ball.  It was a solid win."

Both squads tallied nine base knocks in the second contest, but contrary to the opener, the Wildcats were the ones able to bring runners all the way around.

C-SC did not score in the first inning, but did so in the ensuing four frames to claim a 7-0 edge.

Smith finally got the hosts on the board in the bottom of the fifth as her single brought in Zoey Jones (Sr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Elementary Education).  Martinez then tacked on two more runs as Smith and Wilson both came in on her one-bagger.

Unfortunately, William Penn could not complete its rally, only producing one more run in the seventh as Huff touched home plate via a batted ball from Martinez.

Wilson was 2-for-4 in the matchup, while Alexis Price (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Elementary Education) went 2-for-3 as well.  Martinez drove in all three of WPU's runs.  Smith and Allyson Stewart (Sr., Delta, B.C., Nursing) each posted a hit and a walk as well in the loss.

Tori Smith (Fr., Olympia, Wash., Secondary Education) entered in relief in the fourth and was solid through 3 2/3 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits.  The freshman recorded a pair of strikeouts.

"It is difficult to win when we have eight defensive miscues," North said.  "That was the difference.  We do not have enough offensive firepower to allow that many mistakes."

Next Up: William Penn travels to Des Moines Saturday to face Grand View in a Heart doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.