LYNCHBURG, Va.- The University of Pennsylvania softball team opened its 2024 campaign at the Liberty Classic on Friday night with two games against Morgan State.

Brianna Brown collected a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning in Game 1, securing the first win for Penn's new head coach Christine Novatin. The Quakers fell in Game 2 to close out a late night in Lynchburg. The Red and Blue beat the Bears in Game 1, 8-7 (8), and dropped Game 2, 6-3.

FINAL/8: Penn 8, Morgan State 7
A sacrifice fly gave Morgan State the 1-0 lead in the top of the first, after the first two batters were able to reach via a walk and an error. Although Penn had a runner in scoring position in the bottom half of the first, the Quakers were unable to bring the run across. In the bottom of the second, Julia Mortimer led the inning off with a walk and advanced to second on a hit off the bat of Sammy Fenton. Dani Freer then advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, setting up two in scoring position. Megan Huang then tripled down the right field line to drive in a pair of runners, giving Penn the 2-1 lead.

In the fifth, Amber Rivas got on with a two-out single and was brought home by Victoria Fletcher who recorded a double, tying the game 2-2. In the bottom half of the fifth, Brown bunted and landed on second with a throwing error by the Bears' pitcher. Another error by the Morgan State infield allowed Brown to score when Delaney Smith grounded one to the shortstop. Mortimer then tripled to center, knocking in Smith. Even with a new pitcher brought in by the Bears, the Quakers put pressure on the defense as Mortimer scored on an error at second. With two runners in scoring position, Madison Bauerle singled down the right field line and plated Freer and Fenton. Penn scored five in the fifth, off four hits and three errors, and led 7-2.

Morgan State added five runs of their own in the top of the sixth inning, tying the game 7-7. The teams went scoreless in the seventh, setting up the game for extras.

Although the Bears had a chance with a runner at third, Ella Utschig avoided trouble with a strikeout to close out the top half of the inning. In the bottom of the eighth and a runner at second, Brown walked it off with a single up the middle, bringing home Jade Montgomery.

Huang picked up three hits and two RBIs, while Brown and Mortimer recorded two base knocks apiece. Utschig earned the win in three innings of relief work, striking out two.

FINAL: Morgan State 6, Penn 3
After three scoreless innings, Morgan State got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Fletcher singled to right, Chadler Mitchell pinch ran and then stole second and third. An RBI bunt drove in the first run of the game. With a runner at third, the Bears added another run with a single to right, making the game 2-0.

In the top of the fifth and with a runner at first, Katie Reagan drove in Blake Landow via a double, slicing the lead in half. Huang singled and advanced to second allowing Maia Hartley to score. Penn then took the lead after Huang stole third and was driven in on a groundout to short off the bat of Brown, making the score 3-2.

Morgan State added two runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth to solidify the win, 6-3.

Reagan picked up three hits and an RBI while Montgomery, Fenton and Huang added one each. Olivia Szewczyk was tabbed with the loss in 0.2 innings of relief work, giving up six hits and three earned runs.

Quaker Notemeal

• Senior Reagan picked up a career-high three hits in game two against Morgan State.
• Freshman Huang tallied four hits across the two games, including three in game one.
• The Quakers racked up four extra-base hits with three triples in the opening games.
• Penn was 5-for-5 in stolen bases.
• 12 different Quakers recorded an at-bat during the doubleheader.
• In game one Penn collected 12 hits and six RBIs, and in game two recorded six hits and three RBIs.
• Huang leads the team with three RBIs, while Brown and Bauerle have two.
• Bean went five innings in game one, surrendering just two hits, one earned run and striking out four.
• Freshman Utschig went three innings of scoreless relief, not allowing a hit and striking out two in her collegiate debut.
• In game two, Rachel Riley went 4.1, gave up seven hits and three earned runs.

Up Next
The Quakers will have a quick turnaround for Day 2 at the Liberty Classic on Saturday, taking on Saint Francis (Pa.) at noon and host Liberty at 2:30 p.m.