THE SERIES WITH FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON | Mar. 17-18, MCU Park

Projected Starters (Penn vs. Fairleigh Dickinson)
Game One: Saturday, Mar. 17 at 12:00 p.m.
LHP Gabe Kleiman (0-1, 4.42 ERA) vs. Evan Raiburn

Game Two: Saturday, Mar. 17 at 3:00 p.m.
RHP Christian Scafidi (0-2, 6.63 ERA) vs. Trent Valentine

Game Three: Sunday, Mar. 18 at 12:00 p.m.
RHP Mitchell Holcomb (0-1, 2.25 ERA) vs. Corey Zeller

Game Four: Sunday, Mar. 18 at 3:00 p.m.
LHP Jack Hartman (1-1, 8.36 ERA) vs. Aaron Cohn


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PHILADELPHIA - After slogging through a seven-game losing streak throughout most of last week's spring break road trip, Penn recovered in Saturday's second matchup against USC Upstate, knocking off the Spartans by a 7-5 mark. As the Quakers approach the conclusion of non-conference weekend play, the team aims to utilize the victory as a jumping off point, surging into the Saturday/Sunday quartet against Fairleigh Dickinson with some momentum.

Penn received another small boost Monday afternoon from both the Ivy League and Big Five, as sophomores Mitchell Holcomb and Chris Adams got the nod for weekly awards. For the second time this season, Holcomb swept both groups as Pitcher of the Week, tossing eight strikeouts through six innings of work on Saturday's first game at USC Upstate. Meanwhile, Adams secured his first Player of the Week honor from the Big Five due to his performance over the past five matchups, racking up eight hits with two RBIs while pushing his hitting streak to seven games along the way.

Entering the back-to-back doubleheader series with Fairleigh Dickinson, the Quakers turn to four starters who have put together consistent results thus far this season, including two right-handed sophomores - Scafidi and Holcomb - bookended by a pair of southpaw seniors - Kleiman and Hartman. All four have showcased early success in their combined 11 starts, but late struggles combined with a young bullpen has seen multiple surrendered leads in the seventh and eighth frames. As relievers such as sophomores Jacob Sadowitz (4.0 IP, 0.00 ERA) and Dylan Mulvihill (3.2 IP, 4.91 ERA), along with freshmen Robby Cerulle (3.2 IP, 7.36 ERA) and Cole Sichley (3.1 IP, 8.10 ERA), continue to grow and gain experience working the plate, Penn will have opportunities to lock up wins behind its burgeoning offensive production. 

Speaking of the Quakers' attack, a relatively consistent batting order looks to have been established with four hitters standing out thus far into the season. Juniors Matt McGeagh and Sean Phelan have served in the power role, jacking five of the team's six home runs, while Adams and freshman Eduardo Malinowski have worked the small ball approach, getting on base and finding the plate with aggressive base-running. As a group, the four aggregate 52 hits with 26 RBIs and 11 doubles, averaging a combined .313 at the plate. 


SCOUTING FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON

The Knights struggled to find any footing to start their season, dropping four straight contests by a combined 49-18 margin. However, the past five games - a pair of back-to-back doubleheaders at Delaware State and Thursday's matchup with LaSalle - all fell Fairleigh Dickinson's way, four of which by just a single run.