Penn (20-10, 5-3 MCC), who has had two different five-game winning streaks earlier this spring, has now lost three in a row (two to Iowa Wesleyan Monday) for the first time in 2009.

The Statesmen jumped out early with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Alex Chavez (Sr., Culver City, Calif., LA Harbor CC) began the frame by reaching on an error. He then advanced to third on a single by Jaime Ayala (Sr., Modesto, Calif., Modesto CC) that was errored in the outfield to allow Ayala to also move up one base to second.

Garrett Jenner (Jr., Jamul, Calif., Grossmont CC) then hit a ball deep enough to left field for Chavez to tag up and score the game's first run. Ayala scored on the next at bat as Ramon Cabral (Sr., Antioch, Calif., Laney CC) grounded out to the shortstop.

Unfortunately, the strong start was halted there as Penn was kept off the scoreboard the remainder of the evening.

Mount Mercy finally got on the board with a run in the sixth and another in the seventh. Neither team scored in the final two innings to force extra frames.

The Mustangs (16-17, 6-3 MCC) produced two runs on two hits in the top of the tenth and then stopped the host Statesmen in the bottom half to secure the come-from-behind win.

Six different Statesmen had one hit each as Penn outhit Mount Mercy 6-5.

Micah Spencer (Sr., Modesto, Calif., Indiana State) tossed a gem, but did not figure into the decision. In nine innings of work, the senior allowed just two runs (one earned) on three hits. He struck out ten with only one walk.

Keith Rizor (Sr., Westminster, Calif., Orange Coast CC) relieved Spencer in the final inning and did not fare well in falling to 4-3 on the year. The senior allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits. He struck out one batter.

Next: Penn remains at home this weekend to host Waldorf in a three-game MCC set. The two teams meet for a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and then face off in a single nine-inning game Sunday at 1 p.m.