#2 seed Penn (44-13) opened the ‘Final Four' weekend by falling to the consolation bracket after an 11-7 loss to #3 Grand View Saturday. The Lady Statesmen rebounded with a 12-1 (5 innings) win over #4 Waldorf (16-22) in an elimination game later that day.

Penn then propelled itself into the championship game with a 6-2 victory over Grand View (22-30) in another elimination game, but could not get past top-seed Mount Mercy (36-9), falling 3-1.

The Mustangs will now represent the MCC at the NAIA Softball National Championships in Decatur, Ala. on May 20-26.

Grand View 11, William Penn 7

The tournament's first game witnessed the Lady Statesmen give up a season-high 11 runs and 15 hits to the Vikings (the previous season highs were seven runs and 12 hits).

Penn actually led 5-2 after three frames, but a six-run fourth put Grand View ahead for good.

In a weekend full of long shots (Penn hit a total of nine home runs), Tyanna Helton (Sr., Santa Rosa, Calif., Palomar CC), Krystina Lorah (Jr., Moreno Valley, Calif., Moreno Valley HS), and Leah Mork (Sr., DeWitt, North Iowa Area CC) all left the park against the Vikings.

Mork led the team with a 3-for-4 showing, while Khyia Lewis (So., Ottumwa, Ottumwa HS) also had a multiple-hit showing with a 2-for-4 game. Helton and Lorah drove in two runs apiece, while Lewis rounded the bases a team-best two times.

Hannah Lugar (So., Kalona, Mid-Prairie HS) had a forgettable performance (11 R, 9 ER, 14 H, 8 K, 1 BB).

William Penn 12, Waldorf 1

The team took their frustrations out on the Warriors with 17 hits, including three roundtrippers.

The Lady Statesmen scored in each of the first four innings, including a six-run fourth that was headlined by a three-run shot by Kara Atkins (So., Burlington, Burlington HS). Helton and Lorah went back-to-back in the first inning.

The trio all finished 3-for-4 as Helton had four RBIs and two runs, Lorah had two RBIs and three runs, and Atkins had three RBIs and two runs.

Mork was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and Molly Miller (Fr., Kalona, Mid-Prairie HS) was 2-for-4 with two runs.

Lugar bounced back to give up just one run (earned) on six hits. She struck out five with one walk.

William Penn 6, Grand View 2

Penn avenged Saturday's setback by pounding three more balls over the fence and again it was Helton, Lorah, and Atkins doing the damage. The team led just 2-1 entering the fifth, but the threesome hit back-to-back-to-back jacks (two-run shot by Helton) to give the Lady Statesmen a 6-1 edge.

Helton ended her senior season with 14 home runs and had 46 for her career--by far the most by any player in school history. Lorah finished with ten home runs this spring, while Atkins tallied three.

Penn was actually outhit 8-6, but the big shots countered the squad's lack of success. Atkins was the lone batter with multiple baseknocks (2-for-4 with two RBIs). Helton also notched two RBIs with two runs, while Miller touched home plate twice as well.

Lugar picked up her 22nd win of the year, giving up two runs (both earned) on eight hits with six strikeouts.

Mount Mercy 3, William Penn 1

Entering the championship game from the loser's bracket, the Lady Statesmen had to knock off Mount Mercy twice Sunday, but the top seeds refused to comply even once.

Mustang sophomore hurler Becca Smith limited Penn to just three hits and Mount Mercy scored once in the first, third, and seventh frames to punch its ticket to nationals.

Penn's lone run came in the sixth when Andrea Rensberger (Jr., Sioux City, Sioux City North HS) singled home Mork.

Miller and Lorah also recorded hits in the season finale.

Lugar (22-7), who faced all but one batter all weekend, possibly ran out of gas. The sophomore gave up three runs (all earned) on seven hits. She sent three to the bench on strikeouts and walked two.

The loss ends the collegiate careers of three seniors, including Hailey Dreyer (Sr., Twin Lakes, Wis., Dubuque), Helton, and Mork.