Harter's Complete Game Effort Guides Statesmen to Victory in Nightcap

Peru, Neb.--The William Penn baseball team opened up a four-game series with the Peru State Bobcats on Friday. They fell in the first contest 4-0 before taking the nightcap 7-2.

WPU 0, PSC 4

The Statesmen managed a hit in the first inning, but were unable to cash in with two outs. The Bobcats got on the board first with a run in the bottom half of the inning, then extended their lead to 3-0 with two more in the second.

WPU, unfortunately, could not manage any scoring chances on offense. The navy and gold did not record another hit until the seventh, but were unable to mount a comeback as the hosts completed a game one shutout.

Nick George (So., Sarnia, Ontario) was charged with the loss after working five innings. He allowed three earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out three. Bret Whiffen (So., Green Bay, Wis., Exercise Science) threw the sixth inning and allowed an earned run.

WPU 7, PSC 2

After a scoreless first inning, the hosts took the first lead of game two as well after posting two in the second inning. The Statesmen continued to struggle on offense, but finally put together a couple hits in the fourth. Unfortunately, they were not able to cash in, and they entered the fifth inning still trailing by two.

Finally, the offense was able to break through in the fifth. Alonzo Zuniga (Fr., Covina, Calif., Sociology and Psychology) doubled to leadoff the inning, and Justin Martinez (So., Bronx, N.Y., Sports Management) followed with a two-run homer to tie the game.

Alex Fisher (Jr., Sydney, Australia, Biology) reached base after a swinging bunt down the third base line, then Tim Jean (So., Libertyville, Ill., Public Accounting) drew a walk. After the runners both advanced on a groundout, Tanner Bedier (Jr., Bondurant, Iowa, Industrial Technology) was walked to load the bases. George stepped up to the plate, and he delivered. He ripped a single into right field to drive in two runs, then a third run came around to score after an error in right field. The five-run inning gave the Statesmen their first lead of the day as they entered the home half of the fifth with a 5-2 advantage.

After allowing the two runs in the second, Ty Harter (So., Galesburg, Ill.) settled in. He allowed just four hits the rest of the way, and only allowed multiple runners to reach in an inning once. George added some insurance with a two-run shot in the top of the seventh, and Harter closed out his complete game victory with a scoreless seventh.

Harter earned the victory after throwing seven innings of two-run ball. He allowed eight hits and a walk while striking out one.

George was a catalyst batting out of the cleanup spot, turning in a three-hit, four-RBI performance. Jean scored twice from the top of the lineup, and Martinez had a multi-RBI effort as well.

What's Next: The Statesmen will finish their four-game set with the Bobcats tomorrow. Tomorrow's doubleheaders begin at 1 PM.