PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - Backed by an aggressive offensive performance and ace pitching from the bullpen, Penn (14-24-1, 7-10-1 Ivy) knocked off Villanova (8-33, 0-12 Big East) for the second time this season, this time by a 7-1 decision. The Quakers' batting order consistently attacked the Wildcats' pitching staff, driving two runs across in the first, fifth and seventh frames to maintain pressure on the Villanova bullpen.

Penn 7, Villanova 1
WP: Brendan Bean (1-0)
LP: Mike Sgaramella (2-2)
SV: None

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Penn offense rumbled to life two pitches into the Big 5 matchup, as the Quakers' first four batters all singled to give them a quick 2-0 advantage. Juniors Sean Phelan and Matt McGeagh profited with an RBI each, scoring leadoff hitters Chris Adams and Eduardo Malinowski, respectively. Villanova closed the gap with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, but Phelan responded in the fifth by driving a single back through the box and just out of reach of both the second baseman and the shortsop. That hit scored Phelan and McGeagh.

The seventh inning featured another spark from the Quaker offense, as McGeagh escorted Adams home before Murnane returned the favor a few at-bats later, widening Penn's lead to 6-1. Malinowski extended the Quakers' advantage with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Meanwhile, Villanova was unable to score another in the face of Penn's top relievers.

Junior John Alan Kendrick notched the first start of his career, powering through three solid innings with five strikeouts, no hits and just two walks. As has become common in midweek games, the Quakers turned to their bullpen early and often, sending out a quartet of relievers to contain the Wildcats' offensive efforts. Only senior Jordan Della Valle surrendered a run -- a sacrifice fly in the fourth -- while the freshman duo of Brendan Bean and Robby Cerulle emulated Kendrick with no hits and two walks across three and one-third frames.

Sophomore closers Jacob Sadowitz and Dylan Mulvihill each worked an inning to wrap up the victory, allowing no hits with five strikeouts.

NEXT UP
The Quakers wrap up their season with a three-game series at Yale this weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday and then a single game on Sunday.