PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania softball team is set for its home and Ivy opener at Penn Park this weekend. The Quakers will host the Harvard Crimson for a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. First pitch of both days is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
 
Saturday, March 18
Penn Park | Philadelphia, Pa.
vs. Harvard (DH) – 12:30 p.m.
Game 1: Watch | Live Stats
Game 2: Watch | Live Stats

Sunday, March 19
Penn Park | Philadelphia, Pa.
at Harvard – 12:30 p.m.
Watch | Live Stats
 
Previewing Penn
Despite an 0-6 week the Quakers showed promise for turning around a rough start to open the season. Last week, Penn jumped out to big leads in both ends of a doubleheader at USF to open the week. In game one, the Quakers led 5-0 before the Bulls battled back for an extra-inning, walk-off win. Penn also held the lead in the second game against USF but saw their lead evaporate in the latter half of the game as they fell victim to another extra-inning walk-off. Penn was shut out in both of its games against Creighton, managing just one hit on the day.
 
On the final day in Florida, against North Dakota, Penn battled back from a 5-0 deficit to take a 7-5 lead before a seven-run inning by the Fighting Hawks led to a 12-9 loss. In the second game, Penn took a 2-0 first-inning lead against Toledo in the first inning, but the Rockets came back for a 3-2 victory.
 
Sammy Fenton and Sarah Schneider had a big week for the Quakers as the duo went a combined 18-for-40 (.450) with, nine RBI, four 2B, two SB, two HR, two BB, and a total of eight runs scored. Fenton's home run in game one of the double header at USF gave the Quakers a 5-0 lead.
 
On the final day in Florida, against North Dakota in Orlando, Schneider hit her first home run of the season, a two-run shot to cut the deficit to three runs in the seventh inning.
 
Freshman pitcher Kelly Zybura combined for seven innings in the two games in Orlando. She had a pair of strikeouts.
 
In the game against North Dakota, the Quakers pulled off a double steal as they took a 7-5 lead over the Fighting Hawks in the fifth inning. Brianna Brown led the game with two of them, and Alyssa Pope had the other stolen base.
 
At the plate, Fenton leads the offense with a .353 batting average and leads the team with two of Penn's six home runs as well as having 10 RBIs. Schneider is second on the team with a .340 average and is one of five with 10 or more hits. Fenton and Brown are the only two Quakers to start in all 16 games played.
 
In the circle, as a pitching staff the Quakers have a team ERA of 6.18 and in 97.1 innings pitched have amassed 36 strikeouts and 36 walks. Rachel Riley and Zybura lead the staff with 16 strikeouts.
 
Previewing the Crimson
Harvard is coming off a doubleheader at the University of San Diego where they lost game one, 6-5, and ended in a 2-2 tie in game two. Harvard held a 3-1 lead after the first inning but ultimately saw the Toreros hit a three-run walk off shot to complete the comeback in the bottom of the seventh. The second game saw all four runs scored in the fourth inning before ending in a 2-2 tied after eight innings.

Four Crimson enter the weekend with a plus .300 average, Allison Heffley leads the team with a .417 average. Kaitlin Lampson (.344), Madi Mays (.341), and Teagan Shaw (.303) all are batting over .300.

As a pitching staff Harvard posts a 3.04 ERA in 99 innings pitched. Riley Flynn leads the staff with 37 strikeouts as she is 3-0 on the season with a 3.43 ERA.
 
Numbers of Note
.246 – Team batting average this season, top four hitters, Sammy Fenton (.353), Sarah Schneider (.340), Brianna Brown (.279), Madison Bauerle (.262)
36 – Strikeouts as a pitching staff: Rachel Riley (16), Kelly Zybura (16), Bella Fiorentino (4)
39 – Penn batters have drawn 39 walks, Dana Anderson leads the team with nine free passes. 
7 – Six Penn batters have combined for seven home runs on the season, Sammy Fenton (2), Sarah Schneider, Bella Fiorentino, Dani Freer, Julia Mortimer, Dana Anderson
5 – Five Penn batters have more than 10 hits on the season, Sammy Fenton (18), Sarah Schneider (16), Brianna Brown (12), Madison Bauerle (11), Dana Anderson (10)