CLEARWATER, Fla. - Another day, another heartbreak. The University of Pennsylvania softball team (1-10) lost in extra innings for sixth time, going down in walk off fashion to Robert Morris, 4-3, before being shutout 12-0 to No. 15 Florida State. After a long week with a lot of close games, the Quakers will have a six day break before coming back to the northeast and Penn Park to play Lafayette next Wednesday prior to the beginning of Ivy play.
Inside the Numbers
* For the sixth time in seven days, Penn went to extra innings, and for the sixth time, it lost. The Quakers are 0-6 in extra inning games so far this season.
* The Quakers' late game struggles continued. In their six extra inning losses, Penn outscored their opponents 14-10 in the first five innings. After the fifth, they were outscored 32-8.
*
Tabitha Dyer threw a career high in strikeouts. The freshman threw five against No. 15 Florida State. Coming into the game, Dyer had thrown just three in five appearances.
*
Mason Spichiger allowed three runs on seven hits throwing five scoreless innings.
* Dyer, while also proving herself as a solid pitcher, has become the team's most consistent at the plate. The freshman currently leads the team with a .318 batting average. She was the only Quaker to record multiple hits on Thursday.
* Against Robert Morris, Penn left ten runners on base, nine of which were left in scoring position.
* While not recording an official hit,
Katie Petroski batted in two of Penn's three runs against the Colonials.
How it Happened
Heading into the final day of their trip to Florida, the Quakers looked to build on their win from the day before. However, what they would endure would be more heartbreak. For the sixth time in the past seven days, Penn lost in extra innings, this time to Robert Morris after holding a 3-1 lead going into the seventh.
Senior
Mason Spichiger got her fourth start against Robert Morris and to go with her start against Central Michigan, had one of her better outings. Spichiger threw four straight scoreless innings to start the game, but the Penn bats were only able to put up one run.
In the top of the third,
Tabitha Dyer who went 2 for 5 at the plate, bunted for a single and made her way to third base on a duo of wild pitches. Finally, Dyer came home after fellow freshman,
Lucy Yang, hit a sacrifice fly to center field.
As has the case in other close losses over the past week. Penn left runners on base in scoring position all too often. On Thursday morning, nine of the ten batters left on base, were left stranded on second and third.
In the bottom of the fifth, Spichiger allowed her first run on the day on a single to right field, but the Quakers responded with two runs of their own in the sixth.
Corey Burrough and
Hannah Gibbons both singled to get the inning started, while
Kayla Ketring and
Clare Sebastianelli each pinch ran and each stole second base.
Petroski brought in both runners reaching on fielders choice. Aided by a throwing error, Penn went into the seventh inning up 3-1.
While having a great game prior to the seventh, Spichiger threw a series of wild pitches to put runners on second and third. She then allowed a single, bringing in a runner to make it a one score game.
Abigail Abramson was then brought in for the save attempt, but one hit tied the score and for the sixth time, the Red and Blue were headed to extras.
With just one out, Penn ended up leaving
Molly Oretsky on third. In the bottom of the frame, Robert Morris walked off on a throwing error from Burrough to second base as she tried to pick off the runner on second which allowed the runner on third to score.
In the second game of the day, the Quakers faced No. 15 Florida State who made it to last year's Super Regional. It was the first top 25 opponent that Penn has faced since they played No. 16 Texas A&M in the 2013 NCAA Regional.
Starting in the circle would be
Jennifer Brann, but after a rough start, freshman
Tabitha Dyer took over and had a solid outing. After an eight run first inning, seven of which were allowed by Brann, Dyer allowed just four runs the rest of the way. The freshman struck out five batters, which is a career high as she had three total for the season.
Offensively, the Quakers struggled. Brann, Yang, and
Raven Houck each singled, but did not advance to second base as Penn fell 12-0 to the fifteenth ranked team in the nation.
What's Next
The Quakers will have a six day break as they travel home for the rest of spring break. The Red and Blue will next play at Penn Park next Wednesday as they host Lafayette prior to the beginning of Ivy play. League play begins against Columbia next weekend as Penn hosts the Lions for a three game series.
