WPU News
Thu, Apr 23, 2009 - [Softball]
Tyanna Helton is now tied with Kristina McNew atop the career list with 31 home runs
Oskaloosa--Tyanna Helton (Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., Palomar CC) homered twice as the Lady Statesmen softball team did just enough to sweep Ashford in a Midwest Collegiate Conference doubleheader Thursday.
The Lady Statesmen (36-16, 24-4 MCC) won 1-0 and 4-0 to cut its magic number to two wins in order to claim the MCC regular season title outright. Penn can clinch the crown this weekend without any help by splitting its four-game set against Clarke.
In a twinbill that featured the top team in the league, Penn, against the worst team in the league, Ashford (2-39, 2-27 MCC), the games were surprisingly quite close.
The host Lady Statesmen had just four hits in the opener, but finally got on the board when Helton hit the first of her two roundtrippers, a solo shot that cleared the left-center fence in the bottom of the sixth.
Relief pitcher Allysa Fligg (Sr., Agency, Nebraska-Omaha) then put the Saints down in order to move her record to 14-6 overall. Fligg pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four with no walks.
Ashley Johnson (Sr., Burlington, Southeastern CC) started the game, but had some troubles in a shorter than usual stint. The senior tossed 4 1/3 innings and allowed three hits. She struck out two and walked one.
In addition to Helton's home run, Leah Mork (Jr., DeWitt, North Iowa Area CC), Hanna Meinecke (So., Jefferson, Jefferson-Scranton HS), and Hailey Dreyer (Jr., Twin Lakes, Wis., Dubuque) also had one hit each.
The Penn offense fared a bit better in the second game with six hits, but again was kept off the board in the early innings.
The Lady Statesmen finally took the lead in the bottom of the third when Ashley Stream (Fr., Chariton, Chariton HS) scored on an Ashford error off a ball hit by Kara Atkins (Fr., Burlington, Burlington HS).
Krystle Carr (Sr., Acton, Calif., Paraclete HS) then singled home Helton, while Atkins also scored on the play via another Saint error.
The hosts put the game out of reach in the fourth frame when Helton hit another solo home run, her 11th of the year, but more importantly the 31st of her career. She is now tied with Kristina McNew (2003-2005) for the career high in home runs.
Helton and Stream both had two hits in the game, while Carr and Cassie Holt (Fr., Muskego, Wis., Muskego HS) added a base knock each as well.
Not to be outdone by her offense, Hannah Lugar (Fr., Kalona, Mid-Prairie HS) had the best outing of her young collegiate career as she was just one out away from her first no-hitter in the navy blue and gold.
Unfortunately, the no-no was broken up by a hit into right field. The freshman, who is now 10-5 on the season, then got the next batter to ground out to third as she picked up her fourth solo shutout of 2009.
Lugar allowed just one hit, while collecting three strikeouts against one walk.
Penn now has 19 shutouts in 2009 and is just four shy of the school single-season record of 23 shutouts, set by the 2005 Lady Statesmen squad.
Next: Penn hosts Clarke for a four-game set this weekend. The two teams meet Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. and then face off again Sunday for another double dip at 12 p.m.
The Lady Statesmen (36-16, 24-4 MCC) won 1-0 and 4-0 to cut its magic number to two wins in order to claim the MCC regular season title outright. Penn can clinch the crown this weekend without any help by splitting its four-game set against Clarke.
In a twinbill that featured the top team in the league, Penn, against the worst team in the league, Ashford (2-39, 2-27 MCC), the games were surprisingly quite close.
The host Lady Statesmen had just four hits in the opener, but finally got on the board when Helton hit the first of her two roundtrippers, a solo shot that cleared the left-center fence in the bottom of the sixth.
Relief pitcher Allysa Fligg (Sr., Agency, Nebraska-Omaha) then put the Saints down in order to move her record to 14-6 overall. Fligg pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four with no walks.
Ashley Johnson (Sr., Burlington, Southeastern CC) started the game, but had some troubles in a shorter than usual stint. The senior tossed 4 1/3 innings and allowed three hits. She struck out two and walked one.
In addition to Helton's home run, Leah Mork (Jr., DeWitt, North Iowa Area CC), Hanna Meinecke (So., Jefferson, Jefferson-Scranton HS), and Hailey Dreyer (Jr., Twin Lakes, Wis., Dubuque) also had one hit each.
The Penn offense fared a bit better in the second game with six hits, but again was kept off the board in the early innings.
The Lady Statesmen finally took the lead in the bottom of the third when Ashley Stream (Fr., Chariton, Chariton HS) scored on an Ashford error off a ball hit by Kara Atkins (Fr., Burlington, Burlington HS).
Krystle Carr (Sr., Acton, Calif., Paraclete HS) then singled home Helton, while Atkins also scored on the play via another Saint error.
The hosts put the game out of reach in the fourth frame when Helton hit another solo home run, her 11th of the year, but more importantly the 31st of her career. She is now tied with Kristina McNew (2003-2005) for the career high in home runs.
Helton and Stream both had two hits in the game, while Carr and Cassie Holt (Fr., Muskego, Wis., Muskego HS) added a base knock each as well.
Not to be outdone by her offense, Hannah Lugar (Fr., Kalona, Mid-Prairie HS) had the best outing of her young collegiate career as she was just one out away from her first no-hitter in the navy blue and gold.
Unfortunately, the no-no was broken up by a hit into right field. The freshman, who is now 10-5 on the season, then got the next batter to ground out to third as she picked up her fourth solo shutout of 2009.
Lugar allowed just one hit, while collecting three strikeouts against one walk.
Penn now has 19 shutouts in 2009 and is just four shy of the school single-season record of 23 shutouts, set by the 2005 Lady Statesmen squad.
Next: Penn hosts Clarke for a four-game set this weekend. The two teams meet Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. and then face off again Sunday for another double dip at 12 p.m.
WPU Sports
Statesmen Links
