PHILADELPHIA - The University of Pennsylvania softball team brought in two runs in the bottom of the seventh and loaded the bases, but it the rally was too late as it fell to Rider, 5-2, on Wednesday afternoon at Penn Park.
Notes
* Penn's five errors in the field are the most in a game this season.
* The Quakers used four pitchers on Wednesday with no pitcher throwing more than two innings.
* The Red and Blue are 3-2 in mid-week games since returning to Philadelphia from Florida.
*
Clare Sebastianelli's home run was the fourth of her career.
*
Jessica England has reached base in 12 straight games. Her career high is 19 which she accomplished last season.
How it Happened
After a small change in the weekend schedule, the Quakers changed Wednesday's doubleheader against Rider to just a single. Penn would look to keep its momentum going into this weekend when they it takes on Dartmouth.
The Broncos loaded the bases in the second inning, but
Tabitha Dyer, who got the start in the circle, forced two strikeouts and a groundout to end the scoring threat. Rider however, took advantage of a Red and Blue error in the third, scoring three runs as the Quakers went down, 3-0.
Rider extended its lead in the fourth, adding a run and then took advantage of another Penn error to score and go up, 5-0.
The Red and Blue bats started slow, but finally put runners in scoring position in the sixth as they loaded the bases after back-to-back walks from Yang and Gibbons. However, a
Laurel McKelvey groundout ended the inning.
Penn kept it going in the seventh with one last chance to make a comeback down 5-0. With two outs, junior
Clare Sebastianelli hit a solo home run to left field to put the Quakers on the board. Back-to-back walks from
Emma Nedley and
Jessica England put runners on first and second.
Sarah Cwiertnia brought home England and advanced Nedley to third with a double through the left side to make it 5-2 and put the tying run -
Corrie Phillips - at the plate. The freshman, Phillips, struck out to end the late rally as Penn fell 5-2 to Rider.
What's Next
Due to impending weather, the Quakers' weekend Ivy League series with Dartmouth has been moved to Friday-Saturday instead of the usual Saturday-Sunday. Stay tuned at Pennathletics.com for more information.
