PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania softball team continues its spring break trip in central Florida this week with a pair of doubleheaders in the Tampa Bay area. On Tuesday, the Quakers are scheduled for a doubleheader at the University of South Florida and then will play a neutral site doubleheader in Madeira Beach against Creighton University.
 
Previewing Penn
Penn is coming off a rough south Florida trip to the Owl Classic but has many positives to build on. In arguably its best game, the Quakers sophomore pitcher Rachel Riley had a stellar outing against Oakland as she pitched nine complete innings allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out six and walking three. She set down the Golden Grizzles in order in the third and then stranded a pair of runners in the top of the fourth to keep the game tied at 1-1 but Oakland got the best of Riley and scored one in the fifth and one in the ninth to take a 3-2 nine inning win.

Two Quakers hit their first career home runs as Dani Freer's first dinger tied the game against Oakland, 2-2. Sammy Fenton's first career shot gave Penn an early 2-0 lead in the first inning against Illinois State. The Redbirds rallied for four runs in the fifth and one in the seventh to take a 5-2 victory.

At the plate, Bella Fiorentino leads the offense with a .389 batting average and has one of the Quakers five home runs. Fenton is second on the team with a .281 batting average with a team-leading nine hits, including three extra base hits, two doubles and a home run. Fenton and Brianna Brown started all 10 games played.

In the circle, as pitching staff the Quakers have a team ERA of 6.32 and in 62 innings pitched has amassed 24 strikeouts and 23 walks. Riley leads the staff with 12 strikeouts.
 
Previewing the Bulls
Penn (0-10, 0-0 Ivy League) at USF (9-10, 0-0 AAC)
March 7, 2023 | 3 p.m. | USF Softball Stadium | Tampa, Fla.
GM 1: Watch | Live Stats
GM 2: Watch | Live Stats

USF is currently hosting the Bulls Invitational and will close out with its final game of the invitational tonight against Army. Over the weekend USF went 3-1 with wins over Kansas, USC-Upstate and a run-rule victory over Rhode Island. On Sunday, the Bulls rally came up short in the bottom of the seventh as they fell 6-4 to Northern Illinois.
 
Emilee Hanlon leads the Bulls offense with a .371 batting average including a team-leading 13 hits, two for extra bases. Hallie Bryant and Marissa Trivelpiece combined for 17 of the teams 48 RBI.
Head coach Ken Erickson has used seven pitchers this season. Jaden Martinez and Payton Dixon both have sub-2.00 ERAs. Dixon has been used the most as she has pitched a team-leading 44 innings, allowing 13 runs on 37 hits while striking out 33 and walking 20. 14 of her 37 hits have been for extra bases including six home runs.

Previewing the Blue Jays
Penn (0-10, 0-0 Ivy League) vs. Creighton (9-9, 0-0 Big South)
March 8, 2023 | 10 a.m. | R.O.C. Park | Madeira Beach, Fla. 
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2
 
Creighton's offense is led by a quartet of plus .300 hitters, with Cayla Nielsen leading the team with a .364 batting average. Madeline Vejvoda has a team leading 19 hits including three for extra bases and has totaled seven RBI, and 12 runs scored. Alyssa Gappa and Kailey Wilson combined for eight of the Blue Jays 11 home runs.
 
In the circle, Creighton posts a team ERA of 2.97 with 95 strikeouts and 42 walks. With a 2.22 ERA Payton Akers leads the team and as she is 2-2 in 13 games played. Natalia Puchino is 5-3 with a 2.60 ERA in a team-leading 43 innings pitched, 31 strikeouts, 16 walks, and one complete game.
 
Opponents have 21 stolen bases in 22 chances in 17 games played.
 
Creighton will take on LIU and Southern Indiana on Tuesday.  
  
Numbers of Note
.237 – Team batting average this season, top four hitters, Bella Fiorentino (.389), Sammy Fenton (.281), and Sarah Schneider (.269), Dana Anderson (.269)
24 – Strikeouts as a pitching staff: Rachel Riley (12), Kelly Zybura (8), Bella Fiorentino (4)
20 – Penn batters have drawn 20 walks
5 – Five Penn batters have hit five total home runs on the season, Dana Anderson, Sammy Fenton, Bella Fiorentino, Dani Freer, Julia Mortimer


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