Three more Midwest Collegiate Conference victories on Monday locked up a berth in the postseason for the William Penn baseball team.
The Statesmen (22-22, 12-12 MCC) swept St. Ambrose in the tripleheader by scores of 4-1, 3-0, and 8-4. WPU will enter the five-team MCC Tournament as the #4 seed (SAU will be #5).
WPU 4, St. Ambrose 1
For the second Monday in a row, the navy and gold played three games; this time around the team enjoyed much more success.
Each side had seven hits in the first game with WPU scoring once in the first, fourth, sixth, and seventh innings. Kenny Hall paced his crew with a 3-for-3 outing, while Cory DeRush was 2-for-4. Both individuals scored twice in the opener.
Matt Vasquez was strong in the start, permitting only one run (earned) on seven scattered hits through 6 1/3 innings. The senior (5-2) had four strikeouts with just one walk.
Logan Overly closed it out for his fifth save of the year.
WPU 3, St. Ambrose 0
An even better pitcher’s duel occurred in the second contest with Jacob Logan tossing a complete-game four-hit shutout to move to 2-1. He managed four K’s with one walk and allowed just two baserunners to reach scoring position.
Robert Phiakeo provided all the offense Logan would need, singling home Patrick Roxbury in the first. Matt Emerson added an RBI double in the second, while one final insurance run was plated in the seventh.
WPU outhit the Fighting Bees 5-4.
WPU 8, St. Ambrose 4
With the postseason seedings locked up for both teams after game two, the finale was basically just for fun and the Statesmen had a lot of fun with 15 hits (six for SAU).
Hall (single) and Sho Serrano (double) both had RBI base knocks in the opening frame. Roxbury plated two on a second-inning single, while Connor Sutton helped the visitors to one of their two runs in the fourth with a single.
Phiakeo concluded William Penn’s scoring in the seventh with a two-RBI single. Serrano finished 3-for-4, while DeRush, Roxbury, Sutton, Hall, and Phiakeo all added two hits. Roxbury and Phiakeo produced two RBIs, while DeRush scored on three occasions. Pinchrunner Chris Bartmann touched home plate twice as well.
Tyler Martinez collected the victory, going five innings and allowing three earned runs on four hits. The junior (2-3) struck out five and walked one.
Juvenal Terrazas also worked a scoreless seventh inning (one walk).
