CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - A massive cold front sweeping across the Northeast combined with a hostile road environment proved too much for Penn (7-17-1, 2-5-1 Ivy) in Saturday's doubleheader at Harvard, as the Quakers dropped back-to-back matchups to the surging Crimson. The Quakers' offense was unable to match Harvard's home-spurred attack, as Penn was either tied or played from behind for all but one half-inning between both games. 

Game One - Harvard 5, Penn 2
WP: Noah Zavolas (3-1)
LP:  Gabe Kleiman (0-5)
SV: Kieran Shaw (1)

Game Two - Harvard 14, Penn 5
WP: Simon Rosenblum-Larson (2-1)
LP: Mitchell Holcomb (0-3)
SV: None

HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
Solid pitching from both sides kept the offenses quiet through the first two innings of the opening matchup, but Penn took advantage of an opportunity in the third to pick up its only lead of the day. Sophomore Chris Adams managed to steal home on a heads-up play, granting the Quakers an early 1-0 edge, but Harvard struck back quickly in the bottom of the frame, notching five runs off three RBI singles. The Crimson's five-run third would prove to be the difference in the game, as the only offense Penn mustered after that came in the eighth behind junior Matt McGeagh's RBI single.

On the mound, senior Gabe Kleiman managed another strong outing with an unfortunate result, as he tossed a complete game (eight innings) and allowed just six hits and three walks while dealing eight strikeouts. Harvard's Noah Zavolas put together a similarly impressive performance, as he surrendered just seven hits in as many frames with six strikeouts, spreading out his hits to minimize the damage. Kieran Shaw closed out the final two innings, locking up his first save of the year.

GAME TWO
The second matchup saw much more offensive production on both sides, as Harvard posted eight runs in the second frame, earning a lead that the Crimson would never relinquish. Senior Andrew Murnane kick-started the Quakers' engine with an inside-the-park home run to open the third, and fellow senior Daniel Halevy followed suit with an RBI single. A passed ball helped Penn cut the lead down the five before Harvard escaped the inning.

The Crimson picked up another five runs in the fourth frame as well as a final insurance score in the eighth. Meanwhile, Penn got freshman Brendan Bean across on a wild pitch during the sixth before junior Matt Tola's RBI single in the ninth to close out the day's scoring.

In unusual fashion, sophomore Mitchell Holcomb struggled in his start, pushing through just one inning before freshman Cole Sichley was forced to take over, giving up five hits and three runs through three frames of work. Fellow freshman Robby Cerulle, along with senior Jordan Della Valle, closed out the game for Penn, combining for five innings with four hits, three runs and seven strikeouts. The Crimson's starter, Simon Rosenblum-Larson, powered through five and two-thirds innings, downing seven batters on strikes with just three hits and one earned run.

NEXT UP
The Quakers close out the three-game series with Harvard on Sunday, first pitch set for 1 p.m.