Statesmen Sweep Peru State in Heart Doubleheader

Oskaloosa-- The William Penn softball team matched up with Peru State on Saturday for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader, where WPU came away with two wins.

WPU 3, Peru State 0

The Statesmen got out in front early. In the bottom of the first inning, Leah Conlon (Fr., Sioux City, Iowa, Exercise Science) grounded out with the bases loaded, advancing all runners and scoring Laila Gutierrez (Jr., Seminole, Texas, Business Management) to take a 1-0 lead.

Tori Smith (Jr., Olympia, Wash., Secondary Education) followed with a ground ball to shortstop, driving in Marin Frazee (Jr., Sioux City, Iowa, Exercise Science) to extend WPU's lead to 2-0.

William Penn extended its lead in the bottom of the third as Laila Smith (Jr., Olympia, Wash., Elementary Education) hit a solo home run, putting the Statesmen up 3-0.

From that point, WPU held on for the win behind a complete game performance from Tori Smith, who allowed just four hits and recorded three strikeouts.

On the offensive side, Breleigh Mengel (Fr., Jefferson, Wis., Nursing) contributed a double for the Statesmen.

WPU 7, Peru State 3

In the first inning both teams combined for six total runs, PSC started with two runs in the top of the first. 

Down 2-0 early, William Penn quickly responded at the plate. Laila Smith started the rally with a two-run home run to tie the game at 2-2. Eva Viox (So., Columbia, Mo., Exercise Science) followed with an RBI single with the bases loaded, advancing all runners and scoring Tori Smith to give the Statesmen the lead. With the bases still loaded, Mckenna Vassar (Fr., Rochester, Wash., Business Management) singled down the left-field line, driving in Rylee Riesberg (Jr., Ankeny, Iowa, Exercise Science) to extend WPU's lead to 4-2.

With a lead in the bottom of the third and the bases loaded, Laila Smith drew a walk, bringing Eva Viox home to extend the Statesmen's lead to 5-2.

In the top of the fifth the Bobcats would add a run to cut into the WPU lead at 5-3. 

In the top of the sixth inning, Rylee Reisberg doubled down the left-center line, driving in Kya Butler (Sr., Newton, Iowa, Sports Management) to help secure a 7-3 WPU victory.

At the plate, Laila Smith collected three RBIs, while Mckenna Vassar added two of her own.

On the mound, Shannon Van Rheenen (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Nursing) pitched a complete game, allowing just six hits and recording two strikeouts.

"It was a great day of softball," Head Coach Laura North said. "Tori and Shannon were awesome and our defense was so solid behind them. We were also very mature at the plate today." 

"The sweep is always fun," North added. "But I'm more proud of the way our young women carried themselves today and competed with integrity. That's our standard and expectation everyday, win or lose. I love this team and everything they bring to Oskaloosa."

Up Next: WPU travels to St. Louis to take on Missouri Baptist on Friday in a Heart doubleheader set to start at 2:00.