Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania baseball team split today's doubleheader with Princeton, taking the first game of the twin bill to clinch the series against the Tigers. Christian Scafidi and John Alan Kendrick were both lights out today, with the pair not allowing a run in their appearances today.
 
GAME 1: PENN 1, PRINCETON 0
WP: Christin Scafidi (4-1)
LP: James Proctor (1-4)
 
GAME 2: PENN 2, PRINCETON 7
WP: Andrew Gnazzo (3-4)
LP: Josh Sidney (1-1)
 
NOTES
*Scafidi had a career performance in game one of the doubleheader, one-upping his eight-inning shutout performance against Dartmouth. On the day, he pitched 8.1 scoreless innings with six hits, 11 strikeouts, and just three walks. His 8.1 innings pitched & 11 strikeouts are both career-highs.
 
*With 11 K's, Scafidi became the first Penn pitcher to reach double digits in K's in a single game since Billy Lescher fanned 10 in the series opener against Yale in 2016.
 
*The Quakers earned their first shutout of the season after blanking Princeton. Penn's last shutout victory was a 4-0 win over Yale last season.
 
*John Alan Kendrick was untouchable in seven and a third innings of relief in game two of today's double header. Over his 7.1 innings pitched, he did not allow a hit or a run while fanning seven and walking just two.
 
*Jackson Petersen knocked in the game-winning run with a sac fly to left in the bottom of the eighth of game one. The catcher/designated hitter has a career-high 12 RBI this season and is batting .315 after 54 at-bats.
 
*Kevin Eaise earned his first collegiate save after coming in with one out in the ninth inning of the first game of today's doubleheader. He retired the first and only two batters faced to give Penn the series-clinching victory.
 
*With five hits in game one of today's doubleheader and seven in game two, Penn has been held to under ten hits in consecutive games for just the second time this season.
 
*Sean Phelan's reached-base streak ended at 30 games after the senior failed to reach in Penn's series finale.
 
*Junior Chris Adams accounted for three of Penn's five hits in the game one victory over Princeton, going 3-for-4.
 
*Todays two games saw 16 frames where both sides failed to score a run.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: GAME 1
The first game of today's doubleheader was a true pitching battle. The game featured a combined three pitchers for both sides, with both starters going at least eight innings. Neither side was able to knock more than one hit in an inning. Penn had five baserunners reach scoring position, while Princeton did not get any runners in scoring position.
 
The main factor in Princeton's offensive struggles was due to a stellar performance from Penn starter, Scafidi. The junior hurler had perhaps the best outing of his Penn career. Scafidi tossed 8.1 scoreless innings with six hits allowed, 11 strikeouts, and just three walks.
 
The first and only run of the game came in Penn's final offensive frame. Phelan drew a leadoff walk and returned to the dugout as Kyle Cronk came in to pinch run for the senior. Cronk advanced to second after an errant pickoff attempt from the Princeton pitcher. Hood walked then Adams singled to load the bases with one out.
 
Up stepped Petersen on the next at-bat. With a full count, the sophomore hit a fly ball to left field. After the Tigers' outfielder reigned in the ball, Cronk tagged up and slid in safe to home.
 
Scafidi struck out his second batter faced in the ninth and was replaced by Eaise after his third walk of the game put runners on first and second. The freshman finished the job, striking out his first batter faced and forcing a fly out to Courtney to give Penn the series.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: GAME 2
The series finale saw fireworks all contained to a single inning, with all nine runs scored in the second frame. The Tigers started the frame by loading the bases on an infield error, batter hit by pitch, and bunt single.
 
Princeton went on the board with a two-RBI double, then made it 3-0 after a groundout to Hood plated a runner on third. An RBI single to left scored another run, then a two-run triple made it 6-0. Princeton capped off the inning with another RBI single to take a seven-run lead. Kendrick replaced Sidney after the seventh run scored and got the third out on his first batter faced.
 
Penn cut two back in the bottom of the second. A leadoff walk by Adams and one-out single by Hernandez put runners on first and second. Adams scored after an RBI single by Matt McGeagh then Hernandez scored after an RBI single by Matt McGeagh.
 
Kendrick was lights out from the moment he entered the game. The redshirt junior tossed seven-consecutive scoreless innings to give Penn a fighting chance at the very least throughout the remainder of the game. Princeton could not muster a single hit from Kendrick's 89 pitches thrown.
 
The Tigers only had two runners reach base—both on walks—and both runners did not advance to second. Six of Kendrick's seven full innings pitched saw him retire three batters in a row—with one of those six innings seeing a batter who was walked caught stealing at second.
 
Unfortunately, the Quakers were not able to capitalize on the strong performance from Kendrick as their strong offense was held to just four hits after plating a pair in the bottom of the second.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Quakers continue their home stand as they host Big 5 rival La Salle this Wednesday at 3 p.m.