CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - It took a home run in the bottom of the seventh in game one and extra innings in game two, but the Kohawks came away with a doubleheader sweep of William Penn Wednesday at Clark Field.The Kohawks were held to just two hits in the first three innings of the game, with both runners moving into scoring position, but it was the one-out 2-run home run by junior Abby Wedemeier (Maynard, Iowa/West Central) that put the Kohawks ahead 2-0.  Following a full count walk by senior Amy Hanse (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar), Wedemeier drove the first pitch to right center field, plating herself and pinch runner Erica Smothers (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy).

The Statesmen earned their first hit of the game with one out in the sixth inning.  After a lead-off walk and a sacrifice bunt, William Penn put together back-to-back RBI doubles to tie the game.  William Penn also tried to take the lead in the top of the seventh, but the Kohawks shot down the Statesmen's suicide squeeze bunt attempt with one out.

After a one-out walk by senior Danielle Leavens (Charles City, Iowa/Charles City), senior Ashley Leonard (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) drove the first pitch of her at-bat over the wall in left center field to win the game for the Kohawks.

The Kohawks tallied five hits in the game, with freshman Katherine King (Altoona, Iowa/SE Polk) and senior Sonja Schwenker (Burlington, Iowa/Burlington) adding a hit apiece. 

Pitcher Ashlee Simon (Riverside, Iowa/Highland) earned her 10th win of the season, throwing all seven innings.  With 12 strikeouts, she became just the sixth pitcher in school history to record more than 100 in a season.  It was the 12th time it has been accomplished in school history.  The freshman surrendered just three hits, all in the sixth and seventh innings.

The Kohawks were set for another wild finish in the nightcap.  Junior Chelsea Zaugg (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier) had a one-out single in the fourth inning.  Zaugg stole second before Schwenker drove a double to the gap in left field to put the Kohawks up 1-0.  The Statesmen tied things up in the seventh inning.  After coming in to relief pitch, Simon gave up a game tying RBI single to the first batter she faced, while Zaugg threw out a runner at the plate as William Penn tried to take the lead.

Leonard led off the eighth inning with a single.  In an attempted sacrifice bunt situation, freshman Amanda Hanson (Riverside, Iowa/Highland) reached on a single.  Zaugg then reached on a fielders choice, as Leonard was thrown out at third.  After a strikeout, Zaugg and Hanson stole bases to move into scoring position with two outs.  With Simon standing at the plate with a 2-2 count in her first plate appearance of the season, Hanson was able to score on a wild pitch to win the game.

Leonard, Zaugg, and Schwenker all had a pair of hits in the nightcap, while Hanson and Smothers each added one.  Schwenker struck out six in six and a third innings pitched, allowing just one earned run.  Simon struck out three in an inning and a third of work, earning her 11th win of the season.

The Kohawks open Iowa Conference play this weekend, as they travel to 20th-ranked Wartburg.  The Knights enter play at 19-1 on the year.