With the win, #2 seed Penn (42-11) now advances to next weekend's four-team double-elimination Final Round Tournament in Ames on the campus of Iowa State University.

The loss ends the season for #5 seed St. Ambrose at 18-20 overall.

The Lady Statesmen, who owned an 11-2 edge in hits, could have dominated the game, but came up short in several scoring opportunities. Penn left eight runners on base.

The squad did not fail in the top of the first, though, as Molly Miller (Fr., Kalona, Mid-Prairie HS) doubled and Krystina Lorah (Jr., Moreno Valley, Calif., Moreno Valley HS) brought her home two batters later on another double.

The 1-0 advantage stood until the fifth when Lorah started a two-out rally with a single. Consecutive doubles by Kara Atkins (So., Burlington, Burlington HS) and Ashley Stream (So., Chariton, Chariton HS) extended the lead to 3-0.

That was more than enough for Monica Villarreal (Fr., Oceanside, Calif., Carlsbad HS), who gave up a leadoff hit in the first and then retired 15 batters in a row before allowing her only other baseknock. She then sat down the final six batters in order. Only one Queen Bee batter moved into scoring position as the freshman improved to 20-5. She struck out five with no walks for her seventh shutout of 2010.

Lorah led the offense with a 3-for-4 showing, while Miller (2-for-4) and Stream (2-for-3) joined her in the multiple-hit club.