The Lady Statesmen (31-15, 19-3 MCC) won 7-1 and 8-1 to extend their lead in the MCC standings to five games over Waldorf and Grand View, both of whom own 13-7 records.

Tyanna Helton (Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., Palomar CC), who had drawn a team-leading 17 walks entering Friday's double dip, was walked twice more in the opener as the Queen Bees tried to minimize her threat.

Fortunately for Penn, St. Ambrose's plan backfired as Kara Atkins (Fr., Burlington, Burlington HS), who hits immediately following Helton, stepped up with a 2-3 performance, including driving in two runs.

The visiting Lady Statesmen began the day's scoring as pitcher Ashley Johnson (Sr., Burlington, Southeastern CC) singled in Helton in the top of the first inning.

Penn blew the contest wide open with a four-run second frame as Ashley Stream (Fr., Chariton, Chariton HS) doubled to score Cassie Holt (Fr., Muskego, Wis., Muskego HS) and Caitlyn Ratcliffe (Jr., Kent, Wash., Highline CC) and Atkins doubled to score Stream and Helton.

After a walk to Hailey Dreyer (Jr., Twin Lakes, Wis., Dubuque) and back-to-back singles by Stream and Leah Mork (Jr., DeWitt, North Iowa Area CC) loaded the bases in the fourth, Helton drew the second of her two walks to score Dreyer.

Johnson then doubled to bring home Mork as the first game's scoring concluded.

In addition to Atkins, Stream and Johnson were both 2-4 as Penn owned an 11-5 edge in hits. Eight of the nine Lady Statesmen batters had at least one hit in the victory.

Johnson was her usual dominant self as she allowed one run (unearned) on five hits in her 12th complete game of 2009. The senior, who moved to 10-4 on the season, struck out eight with only one walk.

Penn continued to abuse St. Ambrose pitching as it knocked out 14 hits in the nightcap, including three each by Stream, Mork, and Atkins. Holt also had multiple base knocks with two.

Stream, who led off the game with a triple, scored the team's first run of the matchup as she tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Helton. Atkins added another run in first as she doubled to score Mork.

Stream scored again in the third as she crossed home plate from first on a triple by Mork.

Atkins then made it 4-1 in favor of the Lady Statesmen in the fifth when she singled in Mork.

Penn closed the door with four insurance runs on seven hits in the top of the seventh. Atkins started it off by singling home Stream, while Johnson then scored Mork on a single. Carr had another Lady Statesmen single, this time to plate Helton and Holt ended it with a single to score Atkins.

Atkins had three RBIs, while Stream and Mork scored three times apiece.

Hannah Lugar (Fr., Kalona, Mid-Prairie HS) pitched four strong frames before being taken out of the game with an injury. The freshman, who is now 8-5, allowed one run (unearned) on five hits. She struck out two with no walks.

Allysa Fligg (Sr., Agency, Nebraska-Omaha) tossed three shutout innings in relief, allowing only one hit. She had four strikeouts and one walk.

Next: Penn returns home to host Iowa Wesleyan Monday in an MCC doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m.