OSKALOOSA, Iowa - The Ashford University softball team fell twice to conference foe William Penn University this weekend, extending their current slide to 12 games.

The Saints (7-19, 2-10) were unable to overcome consistent hitting from the Lady Statesmen in game one, falling 9-1 in a six-inning contest.

William Penn (30-9, 8-4 MCC) used a 12-run second inning in game two to secure the win and complete the sweep with a 13-1 victory in five innings.

Two-time NAIA All-American Tyanna Helton of William Penn belted a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning for the first run of the game and would go on to a 3-for-3 performance at the plate.

The Saints got into trouble in the second inning, loading the bases before sophomore Saints pitcher Nicole Woodard of Carbon Cliff, Ill., issued two walks to increase the Lady Statesmen lead to 3-0. An RBI single by Molly Miller would add another run, and William Penn didn't look back.

Back-to-back doubles in the top of the sixth inning got Ashford on the board. Sophomore Janelle Schroeder of Wheeling, Ill., doubled to right field to lead off the inning before sophomore Jessica Martin of Arlington Heights, Ill., brought her home after hitting another double to make the score 7-1.

The pair each had two hits during the game, while sophomore Nicole Schroeder of Wheeling, Ill., added another double.

William Penn added two runs in their half of the seventh inning to increase their lead to 9-1, causing the game to end on account of the mercy rule.

Martin and senior Whitney Bauer of DeWitt were the only Saints to collect hits in game two, as Lady Statesmen pitcher Hannah Lugar tossed three no-hit innings en route to earning the victory.

Lugar got all the help she needed when William Penn went to the plate in the bottom of the second inning.

Four errors and 10 hits from the Lady Statesmen plagued Ashford in the inning, and when the third out of the inning was recorded, William Penn was out to a 12-0 lead.

Bauer singled in the in the top of the fourth for Ashford's first hit of the game. Martin would go on to double in the inning to bring Bauer home, but the mercy rule came into effect again in game two, ending the game after five innings.

The Saints travel to Clarke College for a doubleheader tomorrow that has already been suspended twice due to weather conditions. Games are scheduled to get underway at 5 p.m.