Penn (1-1) won the opener 4-0 but then fell 6-5 in the nightcap in a doubleheader played in the UNI-Dome.

The Lady Statesmen broke open a scoreless tie in game one with three runs in the fourth inning. Krystle Carr (Sr., Acton, Calif., Paraclete HS) started the frame with a double and then scored three batters later on a double by Ashley Gustin (Jr., East Wenatchee, Wash., Wenatchee Valley CC). Leah Mork (Jr., DeWitt, North Iowa Area CC) then pounded another double to score both Gustin and Kara Atkins (Fr., Burlington, Burlington HS).

Penn added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Cassie Holt (Fr., Muskego, Wis., Muskego HS) singled home Stacie Gaskill (Sr., Lake Mills, Lake Mills HS) who was pinch-running for Atkins after Atkins started the frame with a double.

Penn outhit Dordt 6-3, including a 2-2 performance by Atkins.

Ashley Johnson (Sr., Burlington, Southeastern CC) was dominant in the circle in her season debut, shutting out the opposition on just two hits over six innings of work. The senior struck out a career-high 14 batters against just three walks.

Johnson's 14 strikeouts tie a career high, matching her tally against Clarke on May 2, 2008.

Hannah Lugar (Fr., Kalona, Mid-Prairie HS) also made her collegiate debut in the seventh inning and struck out two batters.

The nightcap did not start as well for Penn as Dordt took advantage of four walks and two errors to claim a 4-0 lead after the first inning.

The Lady Statesmen responded with four runs of their own in the top of the second frame. Penn tallied five straight hits, including consecutive doubles by Gustin and Mork as Atkins, Johnson, Holt, and Gustin all crossed home plate.

Dordt captured the lead again, however, with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Penn put one more on the board in the seventh on a Carr triple to score Tyanna Helton (Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., Palomar CC) who singled in the previous at bat. Unfortunately, Carr was stranded at third and Penn claimed the loss.

Holt (2-3) and Atkins (2-4) led Penn at the plate as the Lady Statesmen again outhit Dordt, this time 10-4. Mork topped Penn with two RBIs.

Allysa Fligg (Sr., Agency, Nebraska-Omaha) struggled in her Lady Statesmen debut, allowing four runs (two earned) in 1 1/3 innings of action. She struck out two against five walks.

Lugar was strong in another relief appearance, allowing just two runs (both earned) on three hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. The freshman struck out seven with only one base on balls.

Next: Penn is off for the next few weeks until it travels to Mobile, Ala. to face Spring Hill on March 1 to begin its spring break trip.