WPU Gives Up Pair of Late Leads to Open Weekend Against MMU

Cedar Rapids--The William Penn baseball faltered in the latter innings of both contests Saturday as it was swept by Mount Mercy in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader.

The Statesmen (16-21, 8-14 Heart) fell by scores of 4-3 and 3-1.

Outhit 6-4, the visitors trailed 1-0 after four frames of action, but got all three of their runs on one play in the top of the fifth.  After WPU loaded the bases, Blair Speas (Jr., O'Fallon, Mo., New Media) emptied them with a single to center field.  The ball, which drove in Froymer Ortega (Jr., Tallahassee, Fla., Wellness and Recreation) and Zach Otten (Jr., Mapleton, Ill.), was misplayed by the center fielder and in the end, Jalani Hudnal (Fr., Milwaukee, Wis., Psychology) also came around on the error for a 3-1 edge.

Unfortunately, the Mustangs (20-17, 15-7 Heart) rallied with one run in the bottom of the fifth and then completed the comeback with two more in the bottom of the sixth.

Ortega paced the offense with two hits, while Otten drew a pair of walks.

Abel Madueno (Jr., San Bernardino, Calif., Business Management) was saddled with the loss, permitting four runs on six hits in six innings of work.  He struck out six and walked three.

In a game that was defined by just two cracks of the bat, the Statesmen took a 1-0 lead right away as Justin Martinez (Sr., Bronx, N.Y., Sports Management) left the park with a solo home run in the top of the first inning.  Martinez guided William Penn with a 2-for-3 showing, while the visiting crew held a 6-5 edge in hits.

Both pitchers then dominated as no other runs were tallied until the bottom of the seventh.  Unfortunately, in that half inning, a walk and an error put two on the pads and MMU walked off as the winner on a three-run home run.

Brian Thomas (Sr., Shingle Springs, Calif., Sports Management) was the tough-luck losing pitcher, permitting three runs (two earned) on five hits, while notching two strikeouts against three walks.

"We blew two games against a very good, athletic Mount Mercy team," Head Coach Mike Laird said.  "Both pitchers took the lead late into the game, but unfortunately received almost no offensive help in numerous key situations.  On a positive note, the outfielders made a lot of good catches on a windy day."

Next Up: William Penn remains in Cedar Rapids Sunday to face Mount Mercy in another Heart doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.