PHILADELPHIA - Even with a late rally and strong pitching throughout, Penn (5-15, 1-3 Ivy) fell in its home opener against fellow Ivy League foe Dartmouth (5-12, 1-0 Ivy), dropping a narrow 5-4 decision to the Big Green. The Quakers' offense failed to produce much of anything until an explosive sixth frame closed Dartmouth's four-run gap to just one, but an eighth-inning run from the Big Green proved the decisive score as Penn was unable to draw level in its final two at-bats.

Dartmouth 5, Penn 4
WP: Cole O'Connor (2-3)
LP: Gabe Kleiman (0-4)
SV: Austen Michel (2)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dartmouth offense got rolling early off some quick bats in the top of its order, earning one run in the first, two in the second and another in the fourth to surge to a four-run advantage. The Quakers had no answer until a critical sixth frame, as freshman Christian Walton and junior Matt Tola sparked the offense behind lead-off hits -- one single, one double to the right-field wall. Sophomore Chris Adams took advantage one at-bat later, knocking in Walton with a single to left, before freshman Eduardo Malinowski plated Tola on a driven hit to the right-field gap. 

Junior Matt McGeagh pushed Adams across on a single that ricocheted off the pitcher's leg, setting up Penn just one run shy of knotting the score. Both the Big Green and the Quakers managed one run in the eighth, but Dartmouth closed out the win in the final frame despite Penn advancing a runner all the way to third base.

Senior starter Gabe Kleiman looked his usual composed self, striking out six in as many innings of work while allowing eight hits, two walks and three earned runs. The Quakers looked to the bullpen on four separate occasions throughout the game, as freshman Robby Cerulle tossed a near-perfect frame, junior John Alan Kendrick handled two outs in the eighth, and the sophomore duo of Dylan Mulvihill and Jacob Sadowitz closed out the final inning and a third.

The Big Green leaned on just two pitchers for the win, as starter Cole O'Conner handled seven frames with six strikeouts and Austen Michel closed out the game with two innings, surrendering just two hits and one run for his second save on the year.

NEXT UP
The Quakers wrap up the three-game series against Dartmouth with a Sunday doubleheader, first pitch set for 11:30 a.m.