PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Despite battling icy conditions and a last-minute venue change for the series, Penn (5-13, 1-2 Ivy) fought back from down seven to overcome Brown (6-8, 2-1 Ivy) in the series finale, locking up the team's first league win of the season with a 9-8 decision. After early pitching struggles, the Quakers' bullpen and offensive weapons combined to slowly chip away at a 8-1 Bears' lead, finally picking up a one-run advantage in the eighth to complete the rally and lock up the victory.

Penn 9, Brown 8
WP: Grant Guillory (1-1)
LP: JJ Sliepka (0-2)
SV: Jacob Sadowitz (1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Penn offensive engined revved early off the bat of junior Matt O'Neill, who plated fellow junior Sean Phelan with a well-placed single up the middle late in the first inning. The Bears responded in the bottom of the frame with eight of their own as the Quakers were forced to look to the bullpen for relief, but things got tighter in the third when the Penn offense resurfaced. Fueled once again by O'Neill, the Quakers worked through their entire batting order, scoring five in the process and slicing Brown's lead down to just two, 8-6. 

The rally continued during the fifth frame when shortstop Matt Tola scored fellow junior Matt McGeagh on a fielding error at third base, pulling Penn within one. An inning later, McGeagh plated O'Neill with a two-out single, knotting the game at eight apiece. A Phelan double to start the eighth got things moving again for the Quakers, and freshman Brendan Bean escorted the junior home two at-bats later for the one-run Penn lead.

Penn starter Jack Hartman struggled from the get-go, surrendering six runs while getting just one out in the opening frame. That forced the Quakers to look to usual short reliever Robby Cerulle to pick up the slack. The right-handed freshman managed to not only contain the Bears, but held their offense scoreless for four and two-third innings and allowing just two runs in the overflooded first for a grand total of four hits, one walk and two strikeouts.

The Brown order would face another three pitchers from the Penn bullpen, as junior Grant Guillory handled the sixth and seventh while sophomores Dylan Mulvihill and Jacob Sadowitz closed out the final two frames. Bears' starter Garett Delano was pulled in the fifth after surrendering seven runs, and the Quakers managed to squeeze another two runs against his three replacements, with JJ Sliepka tossing two innings and both Dante Bosnic and Brennan Vasquez pitching one frame apiece.

NEXT UP
The Quakers finally have the opportunity to open their home slate Tuesday against fellow Philadelphia-based program Saint Joseph's, christening Meiklejohn Stadium for the first time this season with a Liberty Bell Classic battle against the Hawks.