PHILADELPHIA - The University of Pennsylvania's Softball pitching staff gave up just eight hits over two games, resulting in back-to-back shutouts and a Wednesday sweep over fellow Big-5 La Salle. A Clare Sebastianelli two-run single led the Quakers to a 3-0 win in game one and then it was a three-run inning in game two that completed the sweep with a 5-0 victory. 

The Red and Blue improve to above .500 at 9-8 and the Wednesday doubleheader marked the first of seven straight home games at Penn Park. 

Notes

* The Quakers' five runs scored in game two marks the third time that they have reached that mark. They are 3-0 when scoring five runs. 

* Penn's back-to-back shutout wins over La Salle is the first time that it has recorded back-to-back shutout wins over the same opponent since defeating Rider 6-0 and 1-0 in 2017. 

* Tabitha Dyer recorded her fifth win of the season. The sophomore improves to 5-1 this season and is the first Penn pitcher to win five of her first six starts since Alexis Sargent in 2016. 

* Julia Longo earned the first win of her young career. The freshman through four scoreless innings, while giving up one hit. 

* Jennifer Brann earned her first save of the season. It's the third save of her career. 

* Clare Sebastianelli and Ashely Waco tallied their first RBI of the season. Sebastianelli's two RBI in game one put Penn up 2-0 in the first, while Waco's brought in the first of three runs in the fourth during game two. 

How it Happened

After tough losses over the weekend in New Haven, the Quakers were back in the comfort of their home field at Penn Park on Wednesday. Penn got off to a fast start against La Salle. Sarah Cwiertnia and Hannah Gibbons singled in the first while Lucy Yang stayed patient at the plate to earn a walk and load the bases. Clare Sebastianelli took advantage, singling to right, bringing in two runs to give the Red and Blue and 2-0 lead. 

In the third inning, Julia Schneider took advantage of two passed balls to come home and extend the Quaker lead to three. 

With the early lead, Julia Longo held strong in the circle. The freshman didn't give up a hit until the third inning and only allowed three base-runners in four innings of play. 

After an impressive four innings, Longo was substituted for Jennifer Brann. The junior kept going what the freshman started. Brann struck out the first two batters she faced and gave up just one hit in the sixth. A pop-up behind home plate to Sarah Ketring ended game one in a, 3-0, Quaker victory. 

Unlike game one, game two was a stalemate to start. Laurel McKelvey doubled in the second, but was left stranded. The Explorers put runners on second and third in the following inning, but Abigail Abramson forced a fly out to right field to end the threat. 

Three straight walks in the fourth loaded the bases for the Quakers. Ashley Waco brought home Kayla Ketring to break the scoreless tie and then it was a Julia Schneider single to right field that brought in two more runs to extend the lead to three. 

In the fifth, Emma Nedley led-off with a double and Sam Pederson followed up with a single of her own. A Kayla Ketring double down the right side brought both runners home, extending the lead once again, this time to make the score 5-0. Penn loaded the bases in the sixth, but couldn't bring anybody home. 

La Salle loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh in attempt of a late rally. The Explorers nearly scored on a wild pitch but a head's up play by McKelvey and Dyer tagged the runner out at home. Dyer then struck-out the batter looking to secure the sweep and record her fifth win in the circle this season.