After seeing limited action throughout her freshman 2023 slate, appearing in 23 games and going 4-for-10 with one double and three runs scored, Penner enjoyed a breakout 2024 season during which she hit .295/.323/.301 (46-for-156) in 49 games as an everyday starter.
She hit safely in eight of her first nine games of the season Feb. 8-25, going 10-for-32 with six RBI in that span, and would finish the year with 12 multi-hit games.
“With me having one year left, all four of their backgrounds and how much of the game they know is insane,” Penner said of the Knights’ coaching staff. “Coach Noah (Sanders) really sold me with the hitting aspect, I really wanted to develop my game and reach my full potential offensively, and I feel like all of them have so much useful knowledge.”
Appearing in and starting 51 games throughout the 2025 season, Penner set single-season career-highs in doubles (7), walks (15) and RBI (16), and matched her previous season-high in runs scored (25) while also hitting her first career triple.
In Kent State’s Feb. 21 contest against Michigan, one of UCF’s eventual three NCAA Austin Regional opponents, Penner went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, and later produced another multi-hit game with a run scored against North Carolina in Chapel Hill March 2.
