PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania softball team scored a pair of unanswered runs and brought the tying run to the plate but couldn't complete the rally as it dropped its fifth straight on Wednesday. Despite a second inning grand slam for the Hawks, Penn pitching held the home team's bats in check, stranding eight Hawks on base.

Saint Joseph's 4, Penn 2
Julia Longo worked around a pair of no out runners to get out of the first inning unscathed. The second inning looked to be going the same way as the Hawks first three batters reached on a walk, fielder's choice, and a base hit to left. Longo got the next two batters out on a fielder's choice getting the lead runner out at home and then a strike out swinging. The second batter in the Saint Joseph's lineup got ahold of a pitch and sent it just over the left field fence and less than 10 feet inside the foul pole for the grand slam and what proved to be the game winning blast.

Penn used three pitchers in the game as Olivia Szewczyk came in for the third and fourth innings scattering three hits and allowing no runs while striking out one and walking none. Payton Bean entered for the fifth and sixth innings allowing no runs on no hits while striking out one and walking three.

Emma Nedley drove in both of Penn's runs as her first RBI base hit came in the fourth inning driving in Sarah Schneider from second to make it 4-1. Two innings later Nedley came up to the plate again with runners one and singled through the right side to drive in Madison Bauerle from second to make it 4-2. That would be the final score as Penn was unable to do anything in the top of the seventh with a lead off single by Julia Mortimer.  

Up Next
Penn returns to Penn Park for the holiday weekend as it welcomes Dartmouth for a three-game series. Games one and two are scheduled for Saturday and game three is set for Sunday with first pitch of both days at 12:30 p.m.