WPU Claims Three in Final Weekend Before League Play

Kansas City, Kan.--The Statesmen baseball team had another successful weekend as it wrapped up non-conference action Friday and Saturday.

William Penn (7-5) opened the weekend with a pair of victories on Friday, winning 11-4 over Dickinson State (N.D.) before also beating No. 20 Concordia (Neb.) 13-8.  The Statesmen returned to the diamond Saturday, dropping Dickinson State 9-8, but falling 14-0 to Concordia.

WPU 11, Dickinson State 4

The navy and gold posted multiple runs in five separate innings to take the first game of the weekend with ease.

WPU jumped out on top with two runs in the first, including an RBI single by Abraham Arroyo (Grad., Camuy, P.R., Master's of Sports Management).  The Statesmen then added three more runs in the third, headlined by Aiden North (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Industrial Technology) clearing the left field fence for a two-run home run.

The Blue Hawks closed the gap in the second with a pair of tallies, but William Penn put the game away with a strong finish.  Jagger Mitchell (Jr., Rock Springs, Wyo., Business Management) matched North with his own two-run roundtripper in the fifth, while Hector Dominguez (Jr., Fontana, Calif., Exercise Science) singled home a run in the sixth.

North and Juan Perez (Jr., Harlem, N.Y., Sports Management) capped the victory with run-scoring doubles in the seventh in a win that saw WPU own a 12-7 edge in hits.

North topped WPU by going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored (one walk as well), while Arroyo, who also had two base knocks, touch home plate three times.  Ened Perez (So., Orocovis, P.R., Kinesiology) tallied two hits as well, while Carlos Herrera (Jr., Bronx, N.Y., Kinesiology) scored on two occasions.

Dreyton LaVeine (Sr., West Burlington, Iowa, Sociology) struck out eight (three walks) in 5 2/3 innings for the win.  Aaron Olivares (Jr., Victorville, Calif., Business Management) relieved him in the sixth frame and sat down two batters on strikes.

WPU 13, Concordia (Neb.) 8

The Statesmen overcame being outhit 11-9 by pounding four home runs.  WPU used a huge eight-run third inning in the upset, while also taking advantage of three Bulldog errors.

Down 1-0 after one half of an inning, William Penn answered with a pair of long balls by Dominguez (three-run homer) and Herrera (solo).

CUNE responded with four straight runs, but the Statesmen pulled ahead for good in the third courtesy of three home runs.  Bradley Soto (Jr., Davenport, Fla., Business Management) flew one over the fence for a three-run homer, Arroyo matched him with his own three-run blast, and Herrera added a solo shot.

That proved to be more than enough as Abel Madueno (Sr., San Bernardino, Calif., Business Management) overcame a tough start to get the win.  The senior struck out six with one walk in a complete-game effort.

Although he had only one hit (also walked three times), Arroyo paced the lineup as he tallied three RBIs and three runs.

Herrera had a strong outing at the dish as well with two hits, two RBIs, and two runs.  Dominguez and Soto batted in three runs, while Dominguez and Keoni Young (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev., Exercise Science) each scored twice.

WPU 9, Dickinson State 8

The Statesmen did all of their damage in the first three innings and held on, despite being outhit 12-9.

Mitchell's double brought around two of his teammates, while Juan Perez drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Statesmen up 3-0 after the first.

Young then drove a two-run home run in the second inning, while an RBI single from North and a two-run one-bagger by Soto headlined a four-run third frame.

The Blue Hawks rallied with eight unanswered runs, but WPU survived to claim the weekend sweep of DSU.

North and Arroyo (also walked once) each posted two-hit showings, while Young and Dominguez both tallied one hit with two walks.  Mitchell drew a pair of walks as well.

Four WPU pitchers combined to get the job done with Thornton managing four strikeouts and Ryne Chamberlin (Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sports Management) having three.  With the tying run at second base and just one out in the top of the seventh, Tyler Corkhill So., Costa Mesa, Calif., Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management) managed a strikeout and induced a game-ending popout to collect the save.

Concordia (Neb.) 14, WPU 0

William Penn was outhit 14-4 with Dominguez recording two base knocks in the shutout.

Olivares had a strong performance out of bullpen, striking out four in two shutout frames.

"The guys unloaded with some serious power on Friday with several individuals having outstanding days," Head Coach Mike Laird said.  "Concordia got revenge on us Saturday, however, throwing several arms in the 92-95 mph range as we were somewhat overpowered at the plate.  Nonetheless, we competed well for the whole weekend, going 3-1.  This was a very good tune-up for Heart play.  We have played a strong schedule which should help us the rest of the season."

Next Up: William Penn travels to Peru, Neb. next Saturday to face Peru State in its Heart of America Athletic Conference-opening doubleheader at 1 p.m.