WPU News
Thu, May 14, 2009 - [Baseball]
Blake Willard had a pair of doubles to pace the offense
St. Charles, Mo.--Lady Luck was not on the side of the Statesmen Wednesday night as the Penn baseball team played its final game of 2009, losing 7-0 to #15 Lindenwood (Mo.) in the Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series Opening Round Tournament.
The #fourth-seeded Statesmen (36-17) fell behind early and never had an answer for the second-seeded Lions, who hosted the tournament at the Lou Brock Sports Complex.
Penn had a golden scoring opportunity in the first as Alex Chavez (Sr., Culver City, Calif., LA Harbor CC) hit a game-opening double to the right field fence. He was then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Golich (Jr., Aurora, Ill., Waubonsee CC).
The senior then tried to score on a fly out to left field by Garrett Jenner (Jr., Jamul, Calif., Grossmont CC), but unfortunately was thrown out at home to end the frame.
Lindenwood, on the other hand, was very opportunistic in its first time to bat, as it grouped together a single and a home run to take a 2-0 lead after one inning of action.
Blake Willard (Jr., Tacoma, Wash., Green River CC) gave Penn another baserunner in scoring position in the second as he also doubled to right field. But again, the Statesmen could not come up with the timely hit and left the junior stranded at third base to conclude the inning.
The Lions (45-11), who will now face top seed and #8 nationally-ranked Campbellsville (Ky.) Thursday in the consolation bracket championship game, played small ball in the second to produce two more runs, extending their edge to 4-0.
The last great scoring chance for Penn came in the fourth as the team loaded the bases with two outs. Unfortunately, a fly ball off the bat of Steven Schultze (Sr., Simi Valley, Calif., LA Mission CC) could not find the outfield grass and another opportunity was squandered.
The Statesmen had a baserunner in both the sixth and seventh innings as well, but failed to bring either player home as Penn left six on base.
Lindenwood tacked on two more runs in the sixth and one final run in the seventh to conclude the evening's scoring at 7-0.
Willard led Penn with a 2-4 showing (two doubles), while Chavez, Golich, and Ramon Cabral (Sr., Antioch, Calif., Laney CC) all had one base knock apiece.
Keith Rizor (Sr., Westminster, Calif., Orange Coast CC) started the game and finished his final collegiate contest with a tough stat line. The senior, who fell to 6-4, gave up four runs (all earned) on seven hits in six innings of work. He struck out four and walked four.
Joey Grant (Sr., Soquel, Calif., College of San Mateo) relieved Rizor in the seventh, but did not fare much better. The senior allowed three runs (none earned) on three hits over two innings of action. He had three strikeouts with one walk.
The loss ends the college careers of 13 seniors who had a teary goodbye to baseball following the game. The 2009 senior class included Jaime Ayala (Sr., Modesto, Calif., Modesto CC), Daley Benson (Sr., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Yakima Valley CC), Cabral, Matt Casey (Sr., Palmdale, Calif., Antelope Valley CC), Chavez, Grant, Richie Hawley (Sr., Palmdale, Calif., Antelope Valley CC), Daniel Holland (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif., Victor Valley CC), Rizor, Schultze, Micah Spencer (Sr., Modesto, Calif., Indiana State), Tim Waters (Sr., Marysville, Wash., Everett CC), and Chris Wedel (Sr., Wasco, Calif., Taft CC).
The #fourth-seeded Statesmen (36-17) fell behind early and never had an answer for the second-seeded Lions, who hosted the tournament at the Lou Brock Sports Complex.
Penn had a golden scoring opportunity in the first as Alex Chavez (Sr., Culver City, Calif., LA Harbor CC) hit a game-opening double to the right field fence. He was then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Golich (Jr., Aurora, Ill., Waubonsee CC).
The senior then tried to score on a fly out to left field by Garrett Jenner (Jr., Jamul, Calif., Grossmont CC), but unfortunately was thrown out at home to end the frame.
Lindenwood, on the other hand, was very opportunistic in its first time to bat, as it grouped together a single and a home run to take a 2-0 lead after one inning of action.
Blake Willard (Jr., Tacoma, Wash., Green River CC) gave Penn another baserunner in scoring position in the second as he also doubled to right field. But again, the Statesmen could not come up with the timely hit and left the junior stranded at third base to conclude the inning.
The Lions (45-11), who will now face top seed and #8 nationally-ranked Campbellsville (Ky.) Thursday in the consolation bracket championship game, played small ball in the second to produce two more runs, extending their edge to 4-0.
The last great scoring chance for Penn came in the fourth as the team loaded the bases with two outs. Unfortunately, a fly ball off the bat of Steven Schultze (Sr., Simi Valley, Calif., LA Mission CC) could not find the outfield grass and another opportunity was squandered.
The Statesmen had a baserunner in both the sixth and seventh innings as well, but failed to bring either player home as Penn left six on base.
Lindenwood tacked on two more runs in the sixth and one final run in the seventh to conclude the evening's scoring at 7-0.
Willard led Penn with a 2-4 showing (two doubles), while Chavez, Golich, and Ramon Cabral (Sr., Antioch, Calif., Laney CC) all had one base knock apiece.
Keith Rizor (Sr., Westminster, Calif., Orange Coast CC) started the game and finished his final collegiate contest with a tough stat line. The senior, who fell to 6-4, gave up four runs (all earned) on seven hits in six innings of work. He struck out four and walked four.
Joey Grant (Sr., Soquel, Calif., College of San Mateo) relieved Rizor in the seventh, but did not fare much better. The senior allowed three runs (none earned) on three hits over two innings of action. He had three strikeouts with one walk.
The loss ends the college careers of 13 seniors who had a teary goodbye to baseball following the game. The 2009 senior class included Jaime Ayala (Sr., Modesto, Calif., Modesto CC), Daley Benson (Sr., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Yakima Valley CC), Cabral, Matt Casey (Sr., Palmdale, Calif., Antelope Valley CC), Chavez, Grant, Richie Hawley (Sr., Palmdale, Calif., Antelope Valley CC), Daniel Holland (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif., Victor Valley CC), Rizor, Schultze, Micah Spencer (Sr., Modesto, Calif., Indiana State), Tim Waters (Sr., Marysville, Wash., Everett CC), and Chris Wedel (Sr., Wasco, Calif., Taft CC).
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