PHILADELPHIA - Sarah Cwiertnia opened up the game with a home run, but Saint Joseph's scored four unanswered runs as the University of Pennsylvania softball team fell to the Hawks, 4-1, on Wednesday evening. 

Notes

* The Quakers out-hit Saint Joseph's 8-4. 

* Penn's loss to the Hawks marks its first loss in Big 5 play this season. 

* Sarah Cwiertnia's home run was her second of the season and the seventh of her career.

* Tabitha Dyer recorded just her second loss in the circle this season. 

How it Happened

The Quakers traveled to City Ave. on Wednesday for a clash with Saint Joseph's. Sarah Cwiertnia started the game off with a bang as she hit her second home run of the season - a solo shot to give Penn a 1-0 lead early. 

Julia Longo started the game strong in the circle, retiring six of the first seven batters she faced. In the third, Tabitha Dyer took over for the freshman. The Hawks took advantage of a Penn error as the Quakers fell behind, 2-1. 

The Red and Blue looked to answer in the fourth. Lucy Yang was hit the pitch to reach base and then Emma Nedley followed up with a single to put runners on first and second. Nedley advanced to third, but was left stranded and the Quakers were left scoreless. 

Another Quaker error in the fourth brought in a Hawk run and then added another one in the fifth as Penn went dow, 4-1. The Red and Blue loaded the bases in the top of the seventh. Laurel McKelvey and Kayla Ketring hit back-to-back singles and then a Jessica England walk put three runners on base and the winning run at the plate. With two outs, a groundout ended the game as the Quakers fell to the Hawks, 4-1. 

What's Next

The Quakers will return to Penn Park this weekend for an Ivy League series with Brown. The action gets started at 4 p.m. on Saturday for a doubleheader.