PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania softball team (17-11, 8-4 Ivy) sits atop the Ivy League heading into the fifth weekend of conference play. The Quakers lead the trio of Columbia (14-15, 6-3 Ivy), Harvard (12-14, 6-3 Ivy), and Princeton (10-16, 6-3 Ivy) by a half-game and will be looking to stake their claim at the top with a series against the Tigers on deck.
Due to impending weather on Sunday, there has been a minor change in the original schedule. Penn will play Princeton in a single game on Friday (3:30 p.m.) with a doubleheader set for Saturday beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Previewing Penn
At the midway point of the Ivy League season, the Quakers have taken their last three series. Penn has won its last six games which includes a sweep over Cornell last weekend. The team's 17 wins matches its total from last season. The Quakers are the lone team in the Ivy League with more overall wins than losses.
The Red and Blue bats are a big reason for their recent success. Penn is the only team in the Ivy League averaging above 0.300 at the plate for the season with eight players hitting above the mark. During conference play, the Quakers are averaging 0.358 at the plate with 10 players hitting above 0.300. Penn has scored 10 or more runs in four of its last five games.
Nationally, the Quakers' batting average ranks 18th. Penn also ranks 10th in the country in doubles per game (1.79) behind senior
Sarah Cwiertnia who's 0.36 doubles per game rank 34th.
Freshman
Emma Nedley has played a large role during her rookie season, hitting 0.478 during Ivy League play. Nedley was named the Ivy League's Rookie of the Week for the second time this season after she hit 0.750 and brought in 10 RBI in the series against Cornell. She leads all freshmen in the Ivy League in batting average (0.385), runs (20), hits (35), RBI (20), and slugging percentage (0.793).
In the circle,
Jennifer Brann was honored as the Ivy League's Pitcher of the Week this week. Brann threw back-to-back shutouts in the team's sweep over Cornell. Her 2.66 ERA during Ivy League play leads the team.
Penn vs. Princeton – Friday, 3:30 p.m. | Saturday, 10:30 a.m. (DH)
Series Information
All-time series: Princeton leads, 63-30 | Last meeting, April 28, 2018 (Penn 3-2)
For the first time since 2011, the Quakers swept the season series against the Tigers in 2018. Penn won an offensive showdown in the series opener, 12-11, before taking games two and three.
The Tigers have won each of their last four games which includes a sweep over Brown last weekend. Ali Blanchard's 8.6 strikeouts per seven innings rank 34th in the nation. Allison Harvey stands as the nation's 35th toughest player to strike out and Ali Reynolds' 1.16 walks per seven innings ranks 29th nationally.
