PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania softball team is set to open the 2022 season on the road, traveling to Virginia for the Battle at the Bay tournament. The three-day tournament will take place at both Hampton University in Hampton and Norfolk State University in Norfolk. The Quakers will play five games over three days beginning on Friday, February 25 at 12 p.m. The Red and Blue will face both host institutions as well as Youngstown State. Penn will play two games against Youngstown State, once at Hampton and once at Norfolk State.
 
Previewing Penn
The Quakers are eager to return to the diamond this season after have two unique seasons due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. They enter the 2022 season voted No. 2 in the Ivy League Preseason Media Poll. The Red and Blue return nearly their entire lineup from their 10-game '21 season, losing six players from last season's roster including five to graduation. Head Coach Leslie King has brought in a quality group of players who are eagerly awaiting their change to contribute and are ready to step up and replenish the depth.

Returning for the Quakers this season are nine players, six seniors and three juniors from the 2020 team that saw its season cut short. While this year's group of sophomores have limited collegiate experience from last year and along with the freshmen are scheduled to get their first test of Ivy League play this season.
Coach King has named seniors Emma Nedley, Ashley Waco, Julia Schneider, and junior Sarah Schneider as the team captains for the 2022 season.

Previewing the Lady Pirates
Penn (0-0, 0-0 Ivy League) at Hampton (7-1, 0-0 Big South)
Feb. 25, 2022 | 12 p.m. | Lady Pirates Softball Stadium | Hampton, Va.

Hampton has opened the 2022 season winning seven of its first eight games and currently is on a six-game winning streak. Last weekend they went 4-0 at their own Hampton Classic with a pair of victories over Central Connecticut State and St. Bonaventure each. As a team, they are hitting .282 with 45 runs scored, 40 RBI and 14 extra base hits. Jordyn Scott leads the team with a .444 average. Kiaya Jeusi leads the team with 10 RBI and is one of four with a homerun. As a team in the circle, their staff has posted a 3.11 ERA allowing just 19 earned runs and holding its opposition to a .265 average. Emily Workman is 3-0 making four starts in five appearances posting a 3.37 ERA while striking out 18 and walking nine. Hampton will take on Youngstown State before its noon first pitch against the Quakers on Friday.
 
Previewing the Penguins
Penn (0-0, 0-0 Ivy League) vs. Youngstown State (4-5, 0-0 Horizon)
Feb. 25, 2022 | 2 p.m. | Lady Pirates Softball Stadium | Hampton, Va.
 
Penn (0-0, 0-0 Ivy League) vs. Youngstown State (4-5, 0-0 Horizon)
Feb. 26, 2022 | 12 p.m. | NSU Softball Field | Norfolk, Va.
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The Penguins have posted a pair of two-game winning streaks to open the season 4-5. Last weekend they closed out the Winthrop University Tournament with wins over Albany (10-5) and a five-inning victory over Towson (12-1). Concetta Rinaldi is second on the team with 11 hits but leads the team with a .440 average and 11 RBI. Yazmine Romero is the only other Penguin on the roster with a double-digit hit total as she has 12. On the base paths, they are a perfect five-for-five in stolen bases, Bree Kohler and Hailey Niederkohr each have two stolen bases. In the circle, Elle Buffenbarger has the most innings pitched with 28.2 as she is 3-2 with a 4.15 ERA, including three complete games. She has given up 17 earned runs and walked 22 batters but has struck out a total of 43 batters in six games. The Penguins will take on Hampton prior to its 2 p.m. first pitch against Penn on Friday.
 
Previewing the Spartans
Penn (0-0, 0-0 Ivy League) at Norfolk State (6-3, 0-0 MEAC)
Feb. 26, 2022 | 2 p.m. | NSU Softball Field | Norfolk, Va.
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Penn (0-0, 0-0 Ivy League) at Norfolk State (6-3, 0-0 MEAC)
Feb. 27, 2022 | 10 a.m. | NSU Softball Field | Norfolk, Va.
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The Spartans have opened the '22 campaign with a 6-3 record as they went 3-1 at the Hampton University Classic last weekend. On Monday, the Spartans earned a pair of conference weekly honors as Imani Moore was named MEAC Softball Player of the Week and Joana Vallejo was named Pitcher of the Week. Moore leads NSU with a .419 average. She posted a .571 average with eight hits including two doubles and a triple last weekend to earn conference player of the week honors. Vallejo went 1-0 in the circle going 6.2 innings striking out seven batters, walking one and not allowing an earned run in NSU's 8-3 victory over Central Connecticut. The Spartans will take one Wagner (Feb. 25) and Youngstown State (Feb. 26) before playing two against the Quakers on Saturday and Sunday.