Statesmen Split Against Park After Strong Start

Oskaloosa—The Statesmen softball team struggled all day to put up runs but managed to pull out a win on their way to a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader split with Park Tuesday.

WPU (11-15, 4-2 Heart) picked up a win in the first game of the day 1-0, before losing in five innings to Park (12-7, 1-3 Heart) 8-0.

The home and away team combined for just eight hits in the first game with five of those coming from the Statesmen.

The only run of the first game came in the bottom of the first inning, after a Chelsey Huff (So., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science) walk led to an Amber Shotts (Fr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Mathematics) hit to right field scoring Huff, as the fielder made an error on the play.

Abby Wilson (Sr., Calgary, Alberta, Biology) stood out for the victors, recording two hits in the contest.

Emily Bryant (Jr., University Place, Wash., Nursing) took home the win, recording three strikeouts and giving up two hits. Huff picked up the save.

The second game of the doubleheader saw more offense, as both teams combined for 14 hits, with the away team recording eight, to William Penn's six.

Allyson Stewart (Sr., Delta, B.C., Nursing) and Huff each recorded two hits in the game.

The Statesmen were unable to gain any kind of traction in the game, with Huff taking the loss in this one, giving up six hits, five runs, and striking out three.

"We played a solid first game," said Head Coach Mike Christner. "We made some plays and pitches, but the second game got away from us. We will learn and go to practice to work on things."

Next up: Due to weather, WPU will now play on Sunday, traveling to Springfield Mo., taking on Evangel in a Heart conference doubleheader at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.