WPU News
Thu, Apr 23, 2009 - [Baseball]
Eddie Sobczak had two home runs in the first game to give him seven for the year
Cedar Rapids--The Statesmen baseball team was one out away from taking a commanding two-game lead into the final week of the season, but the team's plans were foiled as Penn split a Midwest Collegiate Conference doubleheader Wednesday.
Penn (29-14, 14-5 MCC) won the opener 14-4 (6 innings), but then dropped the nightcap 4-3. The split keeps both teams at 14-5 as the Statesmen still have five games left on their schedule.
Game one was a homer fest for the Statesmen as they knocked out four roundtrippers, including two by Eddie Sobczak (Jr., University Place, Wash., Skagit Valley CC) to give him seven for the season.
Penn did most of its damage with nine runs in the second, tying for the most runs in a single inning this year. The team also scored nine against Benedictine (Kan.) on February 22.
Sobczak was 2-5 with a team-best five RBIs and two runs scored. Alex Chavez (Sr., Culver City, Calif., LA Harbor CC) paced the offense with a 3-4 showing, including four RBIs, while Steven Schultze (Sr., Simi Valley, Calif., LA Mission CC) and Jaime Ayala (Sr., Modesto, Calif., Modesto CC) were both 2-4. Ayala tallied three RBIs in the victory.
Chavez, Schultze, Ayala, and Blake Willard (Jr., Tacoma, Wash., Green River CC) also scored two runs in the contest.
Chris Wedel (Sr., Wasco, Calif., Taft CC) had more than enough run support as he improved to 8-2 on the year. The senior allowed four runs (all earned) on seven hits. He struck out two and walked four.
The host Mustangs (24-19, 14-5 MCC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead after three frames of the nightcap, but Penn responded with three runs in the fifth frame to go ahead 3-2.
The inning actually should have ended with the Statesmen going down in order, but with two outs, Richie Hawley (Sr., Palmdale, Calif., Antelope Valley CC) managed to reach first base on a wild pitch after striking out.
The senior then scored two batters later on a single by Nick Golich (Jr., Aurora, Ill., Waubonsee CC). Penn took advantage of another Mount Mercy mistake later in the frame as Golich and Garrett Jenner (Jr., Jamul, Calif., Grossmont CC) scored off an error on a ball hit by Willard.
After tossing five solid innings, starting pitcher Keith Rizor (Sr., Westminster, Calif., Orange Coast CC) was relieved by Joey Grant (Sr., Soquel, Calif., College of San Mateo).
Unfortunately, Grant allowed the bases to become loaded in the bottom of the seventh and with two outs, he gave up the game-winning two-run single and Penn fell 4-3 to leave town with the split.
Golich and Sobczak both had two hits in the game.
Rizor allowed two runs (both earned) on two hits. He struck out seven with three walks, but did not figure into the decision.
Grant struggled in his relief appearance, allowing two runs (none earned) on one hit in 1 2/3 innings of work. The senior, who is now 4-5, struck out two and walked four batters.
Next: Penn hosts Clarke for a three-game set this weekend. The two teams meet for a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and then face off again in a single nine-inning game Sunday at 1 p.m.
Penn (29-14, 14-5 MCC) won the opener 14-4 (6 innings), but then dropped the nightcap 4-3. The split keeps both teams at 14-5 as the Statesmen still have five games left on their schedule.
Game one was a homer fest for the Statesmen as they knocked out four roundtrippers, including two by Eddie Sobczak (Jr., University Place, Wash., Skagit Valley CC) to give him seven for the season.
Penn did most of its damage with nine runs in the second, tying for the most runs in a single inning this year. The team also scored nine against Benedictine (Kan.) on February 22.
Sobczak was 2-5 with a team-best five RBIs and two runs scored. Alex Chavez (Sr., Culver City, Calif., LA Harbor CC) paced the offense with a 3-4 showing, including four RBIs, while Steven Schultze (Sr., Simi Valley, Calif., LA Mission CC) and Jaime Ayala (Sr., Modesto, Calif., Modesto CC) were both 2-4. Ayala tallied three RBIs in the victory.
Chavez, Schultze, Ayala, and Blake Willard (Jr., Tacoma, Wash., Green River CC) also scored two runs in the contest.
Chris Wedel (Sr., Wasco, Calif., Taft CC) had more than enough run support as he improved to 8-2 on the year. The senior allowed four runs (all earned) on seven hits. He struck out two and walked four.
The host Mustangs (24-19, 14-5 MCC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead after three frames of the nightcap, but Penn responded with three runs in the fifth frame to go ahead 3-2.
The inning actually should have ended with the Statesmen going down in order, but with two outs, Richie Hawley (Sr., Palmdale, Calif., Antelope Valley CC) managed to reach first base on a wild pitch after striking out.
The senior then scored two batters later on a single by Nick Golich (Jr., Aurora, Ill., Waubonsee CC). Penn took advantage of another Mount Mercy mistake later in the frame as Golich and Garrett Jenner (Jr., Jamul, Calif., Grossmont CC) scored off an error on a ball hit by Willard.
After tossing five solid innings, starting pitcher Keith Rizor (Sr., Westminster, Calif., Orange Coast CC) was relieved by Joey Grant (Sr., Soquel, Calif., College of San Mateo).
Unfortunately, Grant allowed the bases to become loaded in the bottom of the seventh and with two outs, he gave up the game-winning two-run single and Penn fell 4-3 to leave town with the split.
Golich and Sobczak both had two hits in the game.
Rizor allowed two runs (both earned) on two hits. He struck out seven with three walks, but did not figure into the decision.
Grant struggled in his relief appearance, allowing two runs (none earned) on one hit in 1 2/3 innings of work. The senior, who is now 4-5, struck out two and walked four batters.
Next: Penn hosts Clarke for a three-game set this weekend. The two teams meet for a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and then face off again in a single nine-inning game Sunday at 1 p.m.
WPU Sports
Statesmen Links
