Penn (6-7) began the trip February 27 with an 8-2 win over Davenport (Mich.). The day's second game was called early due to darkness.

The Statesmen returned the next day and fell twice to Notre Dame (Ohio) 3-2 and 6-4, but responded on Monday by splitting a double dip against Concordia (Mich.) 10-9 and 8-9.

Penn picked up its first doubleheader sweep Tuesday, defeating Bethel (Ind.) 6-5 and 9-6. The squad then won its third in a row with a 12-1, five-inning domination of Point Park (Pa.) Wednesday. Unfortunately, the streak ended abruptly with a 14-4 loss (5 innings) to Point Park.

The Statesmen were then swept by #21 Madonna 7-6 (8 innings) and 3-2 on Friday prior to knocking off Concordia (Mich.) again, this time with a 4-1 tally Saturday. The week concluded later that day with a 5-2 loss to Webber International (Fla.).

William Penn 8, Davenport 2

Five different players had two hits each as Penn used a seven-run fourth frame to rally past Davenport for its season-opening win.

Nick Golich (Sr., Aurora, Ill., Waubonsee CC), Miguel Castillon (Jr., Simi Valley, Calif., LA Mission CC), Jerry Hernandez (Jr., Moreno Valley, Calif., Chaffey CC), Eddie Sobczak (Sr., University Place, Wash., Skagit Valley CC), and Cory Randall (Jr., What Cheer, Iowa, Tri-County HS) all had two baseknocks each. Sobczak hit the game's only home run as the Statesmen outhit Davenport 12-5.

Eric Krause (Jr., San Diego, Calif., Southwestern CC) threw six strong innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits. The junior struck out six with two walks.

Jesus Sanchez (Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., Citrus CC) also made an appearance, tossing one inning in relief.

Notre Dame 3, William Penn 2

Penn got a dose of its own medicine the next day as Notre Dame rallied with two runs in the fifth frame to sneak out the win.

Sobczak led the Statesmen offensive effort with a 2-for-3 showing, including a double and a run scored, as Penn actually outhit Notre Dame 7-6.

Chris Freedman (Jr., Walnut, Calif., Citrus CC) claimed the loss, going six solid innings. He gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits. The junior struck out five with three walks.

Sanchez pitched another scoreless seventh frame in relief.

Notre Dame 6, William Penn 4

The sweep was complete as the Statesmen offense was limited to just five hits, headlined by two from Kyle Humphrey (Jr., Boise, Idaho, Skagit Valley CC) (2-for-3, one RBI, one run).

Bruce Foerster (Sr., Medicine Hat, Alberta, Texas Wesleyan) was saddled with the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits. He sat down four batters on strikeouts without a base on balls.

Sanchez gave up his first run in the navy blue and gold, allowing one earned run on two hits and a walk in one full frame of work.

William Penn 9, Concordia 8

In the week's most exciting contest, Penn rallied from down 8-5 to claim victory. The Statesmen scored twice in the sixth and twice more in the seventh, including Sobczak's game-winning double that plated Hernandez.

Penn produced a season-best 17 hits, the first of five straight games in which the team would reach the double-digit mark.

Castillon and Hernandez were both 3-for-5, while Sobczak was 2-for-5. The trio of Golich, Humphrey, and John MacNeil (Jr., Medicine Hat, Alberta, Douglas CC) went 2-for-4 as well.

Castillon, who had a home run, Hernandez, and Cory Randall (Jr., What Cheer, Iowa, Tri-County HS) all scored twice, while Castillon had three RBIs and Sobczak posted two.

Francis Murphy (Jr., Santa Cruz, Calif., Cabrillo CC) started the matchup, but lasted just 3 1/3 innings and did not figure into the decision. He allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits, struck out four, and walked one.

Jorge Quezada (Fr., San Ysidro, Calif., Castle Park HS) took the win in relief, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits. He put down two on strikeouts against two walks.

Concordia 9, William Penn 8

Fortunes reversed in the nightcap as Penn had a big seven-run third inning, but could not stop Concordia from rallying for the win.

Hernandez, Sobczak, Humphrey, and David Ruiz (Sr., Flagstaff, Ariz., Grossmont CC) paced the offense by going 2-for-3 apiece, while Golich was 2-for-4. Penn recorded 13 hits and eight different players scored one run each. Sobczak had two RBIs to tie for the game high.

Ryan Magana (Jr., San Jose, Calif., Mission CC) opened the day on the hill, but lasted only two innings before being replaced by Travis Warnock (Jr., Auburn, Wash., Pierce CC). Magana allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits. He struck out two with one walk, while Warnock, who picked up the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season, allowed three runs (all earned) on five hits in two frames. The junior walked one.

Sanchez also made an appearance out of the bullpen, giving up one earned run on two hits in two innings. He had one strikeout and one walk.

William Penn 6, Bethel 5

Golich went 3-for-4 at the dish as Penn put up runs in four different frames to win the first of the twinbill.

Hernandez, Sobczak, and Humphrey all went 2-for-4, while MacNeil and Ruiz had 2-for-3 performances.

Golich brought home two runs via his bat (one home run) and Hernandez crossed home plate a squad-high two times. Sobczak hit a roundtripper as well.

Todd Sepulveda (Jr., Vista, Calif., Arizona Western CC) picked up the victory, giving up three runs (all earned) on four hits in four full innings of action. He had five strikeouts with five walks.

Sanchez, who appeared in seven games during the week, tossed three innings of relief for his first save. He gave up two runs (both earned) on one hit and struck out two with two base on balls.

William Penn 9, Bethel 6

The Statesmen notched the win in the nightcap as well by pounding out 15 hits. Penn scored four times in both the first and third frames and cruised to the win.

MacNeil had hits in all three at-bats, including a double and a home run, while Golich went 3-for-4 with a double. Both players scored two runs apiece.

Hernandez and Adam Tolbert (Fr., Chula Vista, Calif., Castle Park HS) were strong at the plate with 2-for-3 showings, while Humphrey was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Randall tallied two RBIs as well.

Quezada earned his second win of the week by limiting Bethel to two runs (one earned) on three hits. He struck out five against three walks.

Nick Minot (Fr., Winnetka, Calif., Montclair Prep HS) struggled in his first collegiate appearance, giving up four runs (one earned) on four hits in just two frames. He also walked two opponents.

Richard Romero (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., West Hills CC) earned his first Statesmen save with a scoreless seventh frame. He allowed one hit with one strikeout.

William Penn 12, Point Park 1

Humphrey had a career performance with three home runs as the Statesmen offense erupted for a season-high 12 runs in the five-inning thumping of Point Park.

The team scored four times in the first and seven more in the fourth. Humphrey left the park in the first with a three-run bomb and then added a solo shot in the third and a two-run roundtripper in the fourth for a grand total of six RBIs (3-for-3, 3 runs).

Golich and Hernandez each finished the contest 2-for-3 with runs each, while Hernandez and Ruiz tallied two RBIs.

Bruce Foerster (Sr., Medicine Hat, Alberta, Texas Wesleyan) claimed the victory, allowing only one run (earned) on six hits. He struck out two against two walks to move to 1-1 in 2010.

Point Park 14, William Penn 4

Golich tallied hits in all three at-bats (double, triple) as Penn witnessed how the other side lived in the nightcap.

Murphy (0-1) took the loss with a rough first inning, allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits. He walked a trio of batters.

Magana entered in the second and did not fare any better in 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits. He had two strikeouts with one walk.

Bobby Bunch (Sr., Albuquerque, N.M., Bacone) also appeared in the fifth frame, giving up three runs (all earned) on three hits on 1/3 inning of work. He walked one as well.

Madonna 7, William Penn 6

Sobczak went 2-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored, but it was not enough to lift the Statesmen over the only ranked team they faced during the week.

Penn led 6-1 after fifth innings, but Madonna rallied with five runs in the sixth and won it with one more in the eighth.

Golich was 2-for-3 and Ruiz was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Krause (1-0) paced the pitching performance with 11 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs (all earned) on seven hits, but did not figure into the decision.

Sanchez struggled in his short 2/3-inning showing, allowing three runs (all earned) on two hits.

Ultimately, it was Romero (0-1) who was staked with the loss, giving up the winning run (earned) on two hits in 1 1/3 innings. The junior struck out three with one walk.

Madonna 3, William Penn 2

Madonna pulled out to a three-run lead after the first frame and held on to complete the double dip sweep. Penn tallied just four baseknocks, while Freedman (0-2) lost the contest with three runs (two earned) on four hits. He finished with eight strikeouts and five walks.

William Penn 4, Concordia 1

A three-run fourth inning accounted for the difference as Penn got back on the winning track.

Ruiz and Aaron Laird (So., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) were both 2-for-3 to pace the offense, while Humphrey rounded the bases twice.

Quezada, who is currently 3-0, allowed only one earned run on five hits in six frames of work. The freshman struck out five and walked only one.

Romero notched his second save with a perfect seventh inning, striking out one Concordia batter.

Webber International 5, William Penn 2

Golich was 2-for-3 with a run scored, but the Statesmen did not do much else at the plate in the spring break finale.

Sepulveda (1-1) was one of four Penn hurlers to stand on the mound in the loss. He finished with two runs (both earned) on two hits in two innings, striking out two with one walk.

Foerster (2 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 H), Sanchez (1 IP, 1 BB), and Warnock (1 IP, 1 H) also pitched for the Statesmen.

After the team's first 13 contests, Golich is leading the Penn offense with a .467 batting average, while Sobczak has team bests in home runs (5) and RBIs (16). Golich and Humphrey have both scored a squad-high 12 runs.

Quezada is the top hurler thus far for the Statesmen, owning a 3-0 record with a 1.98 Earned Run Average in 13 2/3 innings of work. Krause leads all pitchers with 17 strikeouts, while Freedman is limiting opponents to a stingy .208 batting average.

Next: Although Mother Nature is likely not going to allow it, Penn is scheduled to host Graceland in Oskaloosa this Sunday for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

The next matchup after that is set for next Tuesday in Fayette, Mo. as Penn faces Central Methodist in a double dip starting at 1 p.m.