WPU News
Sat, Apr 4, 2009 - [Softball]
Leah Mork ws 2-5 with an RBI and two runs scored in the sweep
Oskaloosa--The Lady Statesmen softball team extended its winning streak to five games as it swept Waldorf 5-4 (8 innings) and 4-3 in a Midwest Collegiate Conference doubleheader Saturday.
Penn (19-13, 9-1 MCC), who is one win shy of reaching its season high for consecutive wins, started strong with three runs in the bottom of the first frame in the opener.
Kara Atkins (Fr., Burlington, Burlington HS) delivered the big hit with a two-run double that scored Ashley Stream (Fr., Chariton, Chariton HS) and Leah Mork (Jr., DeWitt, North Iowa Area CC).
Krystle Carr (Sr., Acton, Calif., Paraclete HS) then singled home Tyanna Helton (Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., Palomar CC) in the next at bat.
The visiting Warriors (12-8, 4-4 MCC) answered immediately with one run in the second and three more in the third, including home runs by Laura Read and Jordan Story to take their first advantage at 4-3.
The Lady Statesmen tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth frame when Mork hit a sacrifice fly that scored Ashley Johnson (Sr., Burlington, Southeastern CC).
Both teams had scoring chances in the final three innings of regular play, but neither could break the tie, forcing extra innings.
After shutting down the Waldorf offense in the top of the eighth, Penn went to work, beginning with a single by Johnson. Katie Bunting (So., What Cheer, Wartburg) then pinch-ran for her and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Hailey Dreyer (Jr., Twin Lakes, Wis., Dubuque). The sophomore eventually scored the winning run on the following at bat when Stream singled up the middle and Bunting beat the throw standing up.
Stream, Carr, and Johnson all had two hits each to pace the offense, while Johnson had an interesting day in the pitcher's circle.
Mixing some good with some bad, the senior allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits. She struck out ten with only one walk to improve to 7-4 on the year. The first seven outs that Johnson recorded were all via strikeouts.
The nightcap was a toss-up as the two squads jostled for position throughout. Waldorf took the initial lead with a run in the top of the first, but Penn answered in the bottom half when Helton hit a solo home run over the right field fence to tie the contest at 1-1. The roundtripper is her team-leading fourth of 2009.
Waldorf regained the edge with a run in the third, but again the hosts had a response as Ashley Goepferich (Jr., Dallas Center, Marshalltown CC) scored on a groundout by Carr. Goepferich was pinchrunning for Atkins who singled earlier in the inning.
The Warriors tallied their final run in the fifth, but Penn had one more rally left for the bottom of the sixth.
Mork began the rally by scoring the tying run on a fielder's choice of a ball hit by Atkins, while Atkins then touched home plate with the winning run on an error by a Waldorf infielder. The Warriors put a runner on base in the seventh, but failed to score the tying run.
Mork and Helton were both 2-3 in the contest.
Allysa Fligg (Sr., Agency, Nebraska-Omaha) allowed three runs (one earned) on seven scattered hits. The senior struck out nine with two walks to move to 8-5 on the campaign.
Next: Penn, who has already rescheduled Sunday's twinbill against Waldorf for April 15, will travel to Des Moines Monday to face Grand View in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
Penn (19-13, 9-1 MCC), who is one win shy of reaching its season high for consecutive wins, started strong with three runs in the bottom of the first frame in the opener.
Kara Atkins (Fr., Burlington, Burlington HS) delivered the big hit with a two-run double that scored Ashley Stream (Fr., Chariton, Chariton HS) and Leah Mork (Jr., DeWitt, North Iowa Area CC).
Krystle Carr (Sr., Acton, Calif., Paraclete HS) then singled home Tyanna Helton (Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., Palomar CC) in the next at bat.
The visiting Warriors (12-8, 4-4 MCC) answered immediately with one run in the second and three more in the third, including home runs by Laura Read and Jordan Story to take their first advantage at 4-3.
The Lady Statesmen tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth frame when Mork hit a sacrifice fly that scored Ashley Johnson (Sr., Burlington, Southeastern CC).
Both teams had scoring chances in the final three innings of regular play, but neither could break the tie, forcing extra innings.
After shutting down the Waldorf offense in the top of the eighth, Penn went to work, beginning with a single by Johnson. Katie Bunting (So., What Cheer, Wartburg) then pinch-ran for her and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Hailey Dreyer (Jr., Twin Lakes, Wis., Dubuque). The sophomore eventually scored the winning run on the following at bat when Stream singled up the middle and Bunting beat the throw standing up.
Stream, Carr, and Johnson all had two hits each to pace the offense, while Johnson had an interesting day in the pitcher's circle.
Mixing some good with some bad, the senior allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits. She struck out ten with only one walk to improve to 7-4 on the year. The first seven outs that Johnson recorded were all via strikeouts.
The nightcap was a toss-up as the two squads jostled for position throughout. Waldorf took the initial lead with a run in the top of the first, but Penn answered in the bottom half when Helton hit a solo home run over the right field fence to tie the contest at 1-1. The roundtripper is her team-leading fourth of 2009.
Waldorf regained the edge with a run in the third, but again the hosts had a response as Ashley Goepferich (Jr., Dallas Center, Marshalltown CC) scored on a groundout by Carr. Goepferich was pinchrunning for Atkins who singled earlier in the inning.
The Warriors tallied their final run in the fifth, but Penn had one more rally left for the bottom of the sixth.
Mork began the rally by scoring the tying run on a fielder's choice of a ball hit by Atkins, while Atkins then touched home plate with the winning run on an error by a Waldorf infielder. The Warriors put a runner on base in the seventh, but failed to score the tying run.
Mork and Helton were both 2-3 in the contest.
Allysa Fligg (Sr., Agency, Nebraska-Omaha) allowed three runs (one earned) on seven scattered hits. The senior struck out nine with two walks to move to 8-5 on the campaign.
Next: Penn, who has already rescheduled Sunday's twinbill against Waldorf for April 15, will travel to Des Moines Monday to face Grand View in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
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