WPU News
Tue, May 12, 2009 - [Baseball]
Micah Spencer allowed just one run against Dakota Wesleyan
#4 seed Penn (36-16) opened the day by holding off #5 seed Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 2-1, but then fell to top seed and #8 nationally-ranked Campbellsville (Ky.) 5-2.
The loss drops the Statesmen to the consolation bracket of the five-team, double-elimination tournament where they will now face the winner of the Dakota Wesleyan/#2 seed Lindenwood (Mo.) game Wednesday at 6 p.m. In Tuesday's only other game, #3 seed Kansas Wesleyan defeated host Lindenwood 3-1.
David Ruiz (Jr., Flagstaff, Ariz., Grossmont CC), pinchrunning for Nick Golich (Jr., Aurora, Ill., Waubonsee CC), scored the first run against Dakota Wesleyan when he came home on a fielder's choice groundout by Blake Willard (Jr., Tacoma, Wash., Green River CC) in the first inning.
The Tigers evened the game at 1-1 in the top of third, but Penn regained the advantage for good in the bottom half as Jaime Ayala (Sr., Modesto, Calif., Modesto CC) doubled home Eddie Sobczak (Jr., University Place, Wash., Skagit Valley CC).
Micah Spencer (Sr., Modesto, Calif., Indiana State) and the Statesmen defense took over from there as Dakota Wesleyan was kept off the board the remainder of the game. Spencer went the distance in the nine-inning game, allowing one run (unearned) on seven hits. He struck out five with one walk to remain perfect at 11-0 on the year.
Six different players had one hit each as Penn had numerous other chances to score, but had struggles in key situations as it left nine runners on base (the Tigers left eight on base).
In the second game of the day, Campbellsville jumped on the Statesmen early with three consecutive multiple-base hits in the bottom of the first, including a two-run home run that made the score 3-0.
Penn answered immediately in the top of the second as Steven Schultze (Sr., Simi Valley, Calif., LA Mission CC) doubled to plate Willard, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
Both squads produced quality scoring opportunities in the next few innings, but neither could score until the Tigers put two more runs on the board in the seventh frame to extend their lead to 5-1.
The Statesmen again had an answer for Campbellsville as it loaded the bases with just one out in the eighth inning. Sobczak then grounded out to bring home Alex Chavez (Sr., Culver City, Calif., LA Harbor CC), but Penn was unable to tally any more runs in the eighth and went relatively quietly in the ninth to fall into the tournament's loser's bracket.
The road ahead will be now be even longer for the Statesmen as they will have to win four straight games to win the tournament and advance to the NAIA World Series.
Penn was outhit 7-4 and left seven runners on base.
Chris Wedel (Sr., Wasco, Calif., Taft CC) ran into troubles in several innings in his seven-frame outing, but managed to survive most of the jams. Unfortunately, he was still saddled with the loss to fall to 10-3 on the year. The senior allowed five runs (all earned) on seven hits. He struck out five with two walks.
Daniel Holland (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif., Victor Valley CC) relieved Wedel in the eighth and did not allow a run. In the inning, Holland struck out one with one walk and one hit-by-pitch.
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