Peru, Neb.–Tabitha Scott (Fr., Placentia, Calif., Psychology) was the offensive star in the extra-inning opener and then produced in the pitching circle in the nightcap as the William Penn softball team swept Peru State in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Wednesday.

The Statesmen (16-23, 5-7 Heart) won by scores of 8-6 (10 innings) and 6-1.

Scott tallied four hits in the first game and then limited Peru State (10-32, 2-12 Heart) to just one run on five hits in the second contest as WPU snapped a four-game losing streak.

The freshman had a base knock in both of the first two innings (later scored in the first) to help the visitors to a 2-0 edge.

PSC tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, but the navy and gold reclaimed the advantage in the sixth on an RBI single by Scott.  The home squad rallied, however, to take its first lead at 4-3 entering the seventh frame.

Starting pitcher Chyanne Koko (So., Waianae, Hawaii, Business Management) then helped out her own cause in the seventh by leading off with a double and scoring in the next at-bat to force extra action.

Two scoreless innings followed before the floodgates opened for William Penn in a four-run 10th inning.  On an interesting sidenote, the frame started via the international tiebreaker with each team having a runner on second base and no outs.

Hayley Freestone (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management) started the rally with a lead-off RBI double, while Scott and Kodee Johnson (Jr., Stockton, Calif., General Mathematics) recorded run-scoring singles as well.

Peru State threatened in the bottom half, but fortunately only managed two runs to drop the matchup.

Scott was 4-for-6 with two RBIs, while Johnson, Koko, and Chelsee Herron (Sr., Anaheim, Calif., Elementary Education) finished with two hits apiece.  Johnson and Kayla Browning (Jr. Spring Valley, Calif., Biology) matched Scott with two RBIs each.  Nine different players produced a hit as WPU bested the Bobcats 15-14 in that category.

Koko, who left and re-entered the game, pitched a total of 9 2/3 innings, striking out five batters against three walks.

Unfortunately, the Statesmen failed to carry their momentum into the nightcap, trailing 1-0 after four innings of play.  The visitors finally manufactured their first run on a Scott double that plated Breann Robertson (Fr., Rainier, Wash., Human Services and Sociology) to make the score 1-1.

For whatever reason, that hit seemed to ignite a fire under the squad as it erupted for five runs on seven hits in the sixth inning.  Beginning with doubles by Koko and Freestone, William Penn recorded five consecutive hits to open the frame and pulled away from the Bobcats.

The seven hits ended up being half of WPU’s 14 as it nearly tripled PSC’s mark of five.  Browning was 3-for-4, while Johnson, Herron, and Robertson all added two hits each.  The balanced attack included six different players scoring one run.

Scott earned the win by striking out one (one walk) in a complete-game effort.

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

Story provided by Wade Steinlage

Nebraska City, Neb.–If Monday and Tuesday are any indication of the level of dominance the Statesmen women’s golf team may enjoy next month at the league championships, it will be a great event as the team cruised to an easy win at the Peru State Invitational.

William Penn was first out of nine teams with a two-day tally of 661 (341-320) at the par-72 Table Creek Golf Course.  The 21st-ranked Statesmen jumped past their varsity reserve teammates on the final day as the second crew won the silver at 664 (338-326).  The best score from a non-WPU team came from Baker at 692 (362-330).

The tournament title is WPU’s fifth of the season and second in a row.  Table Creek GC is the host site for next month’s Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships, so this week’s action served as basically a ‘preview’ tourney.

Demi Coertze (Sr., Johannesburg, South Africa, Digital Communication) won her fourth tournament crown of the year convincingly with a 157 (80-77).  She and her teammates were seven of the top 10 finishers; no one in the navy and gold placed lower than 18th.

“Demi showed why she is our anchor,” Head Coach Nik Rule said.  “She had ice in her veins again; that mentality that has led to two straight individual conference titles was here again and I think she knows what she needs to do to keep it here.”

Brooke Fletcher (So., Atlantic, Iowa, Business Management) followed up a medalist performance at home last week with a second-place effort at 163 (86-77), while Miranda Keeler (So., Plattsmouth, Neb., Communications) tied for 10th at 176 (86-90).

Helene Larsen (Fr., Viborg, Denmark, Business Management), in a tie for 14th at 176 (86-90), and Elise Warne (Fr., Melbourne, Australia, Exercise Science), in a tie for 16th at 177 (91-86), rounded out the varsity team’s showing.

Courtney Cunningham (Jr., Muskogee, Okla., Computer Science) guided the Varsity Reserve team by taking third at 165 (83-82), while Natalie Booton (Sr., Mount Pleasant, Elementary Education) (84-83) and Megan Rhoads (Fr., Schertz, Texas, Psychology) (85-82) shared sixth place at 167.

Jodi Saito (Jr., Mililani, Hawaii, Education), at 169 (90-79), and Jing Yang (Sr., Woodland Hills, Calif., Biology), at 176 (86-90), tied for 10th and 14th, respectively.

Playing as an individual, Alyssa Kerry (Fr., Bend, Ore., Communications) was in the top 20 as well, finishing 18th at 178 (93-85).

“We really wanted to make a statement leading into the conference tournament, being that most of our conference teams were in attendance and that it was at the course we will play,” Rule said.  “Conditions were tough, but we battled through and we achieved our goal of finishing 1-2.  I am very proud of the way all our players powered through.”

“We are not quite to where we need to be, but we are trending in the right direction,” Rule added.  “Our players are really starting to step up and elevate their games; it will make lineup decisions as tough as they have ever been.”

Next Up: William Penn travels to Storm Lake next Saturday and Sunday to compete in the Buena Vista Invitational.  Play will be contested at Lake Creek Country Club.

Story provided by Wade Steinlage