MERION STATION, Pa. – On a chilly afternoon at Saint Joseph's University, the University of Pennsylvania baseball team defeated the Hawks, 4-2, Tuesday in the first round of the Liberty Bell Classic.

Trailing 2-1 after six innings, Penn (4-8) broke the game open in the top of the seventh inning, scoring three runs, to take a 4-2 lead.

The offensive outburst began with back-to-back doubles by senior infielders Jeff McGarry and Matt McKinnon, with McKinnon picking up his fifth RBI of the season, scoring McGarry.

After senior pinch hitter Connor Betbeze walked, an RBI single by junior outfielder Gary Tesch scored McKinnon and advanced Betbeze to third base. Senior catcher Austin Bossart drove in the Quakers fourth run on a sacrifice fly to right field. Bossart also doubled in the game.

On the mound Penn split up the midweek game between two regular starting pitchers left-handed pitcher Ronnie Glenn and sophomore right-handed pitcher Jake Cousins (1-1), with Glenn throwing 5.0 innings and Cousins working 4.0 innings. The two combined for 10 strikeouts, with Glenn punching out eight in his time on the mound.

SJU (7-11) scored first in the game, after a double and a single plated a run for the Hawks in the bottom of the first inning.

After Penn tied the game on an RBI single by junior infielder Ryan Mincher in the top of the second inning, scoring senior infielder Mitch Montaldo, SJU retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a solo home run by freshman catcher Deon Stafford.

Penn will play the winner of the Villanova versus Lafayette Liberty Bell Classic game scheduled to take place on March 31.

Up next, the Quakers will begin their Ivy League schedule hosting Harvard and Dartmouth over the weekend. Penn plays the Crimson in a doubleheader on Saturday, before facing the Big Green in a doubleheader on Sunday. Games at Meiklejohn Stadium will begin at 12 p.m. both days.

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