CLEARWATER, Fla, - After winning Ivy League Pitcher of the Week on Monday, sophomore lefty Tabitha Dyer led the University of Pennsylvania softball team to its third win of season on Tuesday. The Quakers fell to Boston College in their first game of the afternoon, but behind Dyer's complete game shutout, Penn finished the day with a, 1-0, win over Central Michigan.

Notes

* The Quakers' lone run against Central Michigan came on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. 

* The Penn outfield was stout on Tuesday. The Quakers turned two double-plays - the most important being with no outs and the bases loaded against Central Michigan.

* The Red and Blue defeated Central Michigan despite only recording three hits. It's the fewest amount of hits that the Quakers have won with since defeating Robert Morris with two back in 2008. 

* The last Penn pitcher to throw a complete game shutout was Alexis Sargent. Sargent's shutout also came in a 1-0 victory, but against Columbia. 

* Tabitha Dyer hasn't allowed an earned run so far this season in 14.1 innings. The sophomore recorded her second complete game of the season and her first career complete game shutout. 
 
How it Happened

The Quakers enjoyed an off-day on Monday after playing five games over the weekend. Penn enjoyed a beautiful weekend weather-wise, but Tuesday morning the rain came pouring in, delaying the start by three hours. Instead of an 11 a.m. start, the Red and Blue would begin their mid-week stretch at 2 p.m.

Abigail Abramson got the start in the circle for the Quakers in game one and enjoyed a strong start. The sophomore went 1-2-3 in four of the game's first five innings and got out of a jam in the second, forcing back-to-back outs with runners on first and third.

While Abramson was strong in the circle, the Penn bats started slow. Jessica England recorded the Quakers' first hit in the fourth inning, but got caught stealing during the next at-bat. 

The defensive showdown continued into the sixth until it was the Eagles who broke the scoreless run. With the bases loaded, a double by Maddison Hamilton brought in two runs. Julia Longo then took over in the circle, but gave up a two-run shot to clear the bases as Penn went down, 4-0. 

While down by four, the Quakers didn't quit. Kayla Ketring and Eliza Demers advance to second and third with just one out in the bottom of the grame. However, two straight outs ended the small rally. Penn attempted to rally again in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs. But a strikeout by Sarah Ketring ended the run and the game. 

In the second game, Penn took on familiar foe, Central Michigan. The two teams played in a defensive battle during the opening game last season, with the Chippewa coming out on top, 2-0. This season's game would be no different. 

Coming off of her Ivy League Pitcher of the Week performance, Tabitha Dyer got the start in the circle and retired the first six batters she faced. The lefty finally put a base-runner on in the third, giving up one of her five walks on the day. 

Dyer was backed up by great defensive play all afternoon. With two outs and a runner on third, Sarah Ketring, Jessica England, and Sarah Cwiertnia teamed up to catch Shaidan Knapp trying to steal second and pull off the double-steal. Time and time again, the Penn outfield was there to field a ground ball or catch a fly when needed. 

Tied, 0-0, headed into the third, the Red and Blue loaded the bases. Sarah Ketring got hit by the pitch to start it off and then Berit Batterton took advantage of an error to reach on a sacrifice bunt. Back-to-back strikeouts put two outs on the board, but Cwiertnia came through with a single to put three runners on. For the second time in the inning, Penn took advantage of a hit-by-pitch - this time it was Emma Nedley who got hit to score what would be the game-winning run. 

Dyer continued her strong day in the circle. The sophomore headed into the sixth with a no-hitter. On the third-round through the rotation, the lefty finally gave up a hit along the first base line. Like Penn had loaded the bases just three innings prior, this time it was the Chippewa. After the single, an error and an intentional walk put three runners on with no outs. 

What would likely be the most important play of the day, Dyer fielded a grounder and made the head's up play to throw home to Sarah Ketring and get the force out, stopping the run from scoring. Ketring then threw to Cwiertnia at first to get the force-out on the batter to complete the '1-2-3' double play. Dyer finally got out of the jam, forcing a ground out to retire the side with no runs scoring. 

The sophomore pitcher entered the circle in the seventh, looking to complete her second consecutive complete game. Dyer allowed just her second hit of the day, this time to left center. However, like they had all day, the Quaker outfield was right behind their star pitcher. Central Michigan's Abigail Niehaus hit into a '6-4-3' double-play to secure the 1-0 victory for Penn and the complete game shutout for Dyer. 

Up Next

The Quakers will play another double-header on Wednesday. Penn will go up against cross-state rival, Penn State, before playing St. John's.