Penn (10-10) opened the tourney Friday by falling to Benedictine (Kan.) 3-1 before rebounding for a 4-3 win over Culver-Stockton (Mo.) and a 2-0 win over William Jewell (Mo.).

The Lady Statesmen again dropped its opener Saturday, falling 3-2 in nine innings to Culver-Stockton. The team then defeated Saint Xavier 4-1 before concluding the weekend with a 7-0 forfeited win over St. Mary of the Woods (Ind.).

Benedictine--Lost 3-1

Penn took the early advantage against Benedictine when Ashley Stream (Fr., Chariton, Chariton HS) scored on a sacrifice fly by Krystle Carr (Sr., Acton, Calif., Paraclete HS).

The offense sputtered from there, however, as Benedictine scored once in the second and twice more in the fifth, while the Lady Statesmen tallied just four hits total. Penn also struggled in the field with four errors, leading to all three of Benedictine's runs.

Allysa Fligg (Sr., Agency, Nebraska-Omaha) pitched strong in six innings, allowing three runs (none earned) on five hits. The senior struck out seven with only one walk.

Carr, Stream, Hailey Dreyer (Jr., Twin Lakes, Wis., Dubuque), and Andrea Rensberger (So., Sioux City, Sioux City North HS) each had one hit apiece in the loss.

Culver-Stockton--Won 4-3

Fortunately, Penn had considerably more success at the plate against Culver-Stockton, beginning with a two-run home run by Hanna Meinecke (So., Jefferson, Jefferson-Scranton HS) in the fourth frame, the first roundtripper of her collegiate career.

The Wildcats answered with three runs in the bottom half of the fourth, but Penn reclaimed the lead, this time for good, in the fifth inning on an RBI triple by Carr and an RBI double by Meinecke.

Stream and Meinecke were each 2-3 in the win, while Carr also had two hits in four at-bats. Meinecke finished with three RBIs and one run scored, while Carr scored a team-high two runs. Penn outhit Culver-Stockton 8-3.

Hannah Lugar (Fr., Kalona, Mid-Prairie HS) had a great outing in collecting her first collegiate win. The freshman, now 1-3, allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits in seven innings of work. She struck out two against two walks.

William Jewell--Won 2-0

Penn went ahead early against William Jewell and held on for the win. The Lady Statesmen scored both of their runs in the first frame when Meinecke recorded an RBI groundout and Carr had an RBI single.

Ashley Johnson (Sr., Burlington, Southeastern CC) took it from there, keeping the opposition guessing all day as she tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits with 12 strikeouts (no walks).

Carr finished 2-3 in the game as Penn owned a 6-4 advantage in hits.

Culver-Stockton--Lost 3-2 (9 innings)

Penn failed to accomplish the weekend sweep of Culver-Stockton as Johnson pitched another gem.

The Lady Statesmen got on the board first when Tyanna Helton (Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., Palomar CC) singled home Stream.

The Wildcats finally answered the Penn run with one of their own in the sixth to force extra innings.

Penn reclaimed the edge in the eighth frame when Helton again brought Stream home on another single, but Culver-Stockton refusing to lose, scored with two outs in the eighth to tie the game at 2-2 and then snatched the victory with the game-winner in the ninth.

Helton and Stream, both 2-4, accounted for almost all of Penn's offense with four of the team's six hits. Carr and Kara Atkins (Fr., Burlington, Burlington HS) had one hit each as well.

Johnson, in dropping to 4-3 on the season, allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits over 8 1/3 innings of action. The senior again had great control with eight strikeouts versus no bases on balls.

Saint Xavier--Won 4-1

Helton almost single-handedly guided Penn to victory over Saint Xavier as she finished 4-4 (three doubles) with three RBIs. The sophomore drove home Leah Mork (Jr., DeWitt, North Iowa Area CC) in the third and seventh innings and Stream in the fifth inning, while Lauryn Northup (So., Sigourney, Sigourney HS) brought in Carr on a fielder's choice in the fourth frame.

Fligg capped off a great weekend of Lady Statesmen pitching performances as she allowed just one run (earned) on four hits in a complete game. The senior, now 4-4, struck out five against one walk.

For the weekend, Penn hurlers limited the opposition to a meager .172 batting average (22-128) and struck out 34 batters against only four walks.

St. Mary of the Woods--Won by forfeit 7-0

St. Mary of the Woods decided to forfeit just minutes before playing Penn and the game was scored as a forfeit instead of a no contest and Penn claimed the 7-0 win (7-0 score determined by NAIA rules).

Next: Penn opens Midwest Collegiate Conference action next weekend by hosting Viterbo Saturday and Sunday. The two teams will face off in a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. and then in another double dip Sunday beginning at noon.