Statesmen Stopped on Last Day at Dordt Tourney

Sioux Center--The William Penn softball team was thwarted in its attempt to post a perfect weekend as it fell twice at the Dordt Dome Tournament Saturday.

WPU (10-4) dropped a 1-0 decision to Saint Mary (Kan.) before also coming up short 7-0 to Mount Marty (S.D.).  The losses snap a six-game losing streak for the navy and gold.

USM managed the game's lone run in the first inning as it took advantage of a Statesmen error.  In an outstanding pitching duel that featured just three hits, William Penn owned a 2-1 edge over the Spires.

Ella Pierce (Sr., McClelland, Iowa, Business Management) and Rylee Riesberg (So., Ankeny, Iowa, Exercise Science) both tallied a base knock, but their squad failed to move anyone past second base.

Tori Smith (So., Olympia, Wash., Secondary Education) and Madie Anderson (Sr., Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Elementary Education) combined for a masterful performance in the circle.  Smith permitted the lone run (unearned) on one hit, while striking out seven (two walks).  Anderson relieved her in the fifth and struck out two batters in 1 1/3 innings of perfection.

WPU was outhit just 10-7 against the Lancers, but unfortunately could once again not get anyone all the way around.

MMU broke a scoreless tie in the third with three runs and then tacked on four more in the fourth.  Conversely, the navy and gold tallied base knocks in six different frames and put runners in scoring position in three separate innings, but were unable to plate a run.

Chelsey Huff (Sr., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science) led the offensive charge with two hits.  A day after recording a career-high 15 strikeouts, she managed nine more in 4 1/3 innings of a feast-or-famine losing cause.  Anderson again entered in the fifth and produced three strikeouts in 2 2/3 scoreless frames.

"There are some good lessons from losing early in the season," Head Coach Laura North said.  "It is February and we still have a lot to do to get batter.  Some of those things were exposed today.  Overall, our pitchers were very good this weekend.  Our defense broke down, and of course our offense was cold today.  We hit into some bad luck, but scoring 17 runs yesterday and none today says something."

"I am still very proud of our start with these indoor games in February," North added.  "We have a small break now to get some injuries and soreness taken care of and to also fine-tune some things before spring break."

Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa on Tuesday, March 4 to host non-conference foe St. Ambrose in its home-opening doubleheader at 2 p.m.