Baseball Splits to Open Series With William Penn

LAMONI - The Graceland University Baseball team worked a split yesterday with Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) foe, William Penn University in their home doubleheader. Graceland is now 6-16 overall and 2-10 in the Heart.

GAME 1 (L 12-10)

William Penn started the game with a 3-0 lead through the first inning of play. Graceland worked their way back into the Statesmen lead the following inning with two runs of their own.

The Statesmen later would put up a six-spot in the top of the fourth to pull away. Late in the contest, William Penn held 12-5 lead after getting three runs in the top of the seventh. The Yellowjackets would not go down without a fight in their final at bats. Graceland scored five in the bottom half, but it was not enough to complete the comeback.

Offensively, Graceland had 10 hits as a team including three from Matt Reyes. Zak Schueller and Jerred Soriano each had two to go along with two RBI as well. Roger Camacho started the game on the mound and went the first four innings. He struck out five batters and only five on his nine runs allowed were earned.

GAME 2 (W 5-1)

This time, it was Graceland who put up three first inning runs as they had four hits in the opening frame. With a 3-1 lead later in the game, the Yellowjackets added on two more in the bottom of the third.

Defensively and on the mound, Graceland kept the William Penn offense quiet for most of the game. They held the Statesmen to just five hits all day and secured the 5-1 victory.

Graceland was led offensively in game two by Tanner Maskey and Schueller with two hits apiece. On the bump, Cody Ferguson pitched a complete game while striking out four and picking up the win as he allowed just one run in the outing.

The Yellowjackets will look to win the four-game series over the Statesmen as they host the final two games later today. The first pitch for today's doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. at Chase Stadium.

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- Yellowjackets -