Newark, Del. – The University of Pennsylvania's softball team dropped a pair of games against Delaware on Wednesday evening. The Red and Blue were edged 1-0 in game one and fell 7-1 in game two at the Delaware Softball Diamond.

Penn out-hit Delaware in game one, (7-4) but a double followed by a triple made the difference in the bottom of the third inning. In game two, the Blue Hens homered in the first and third innings and added insurance late in the game to help secure the win.

With the losses, the Quakers fall to 5-11 and are 1-8 on the road this season.

FINAL: Delaware 1, Penn 0
Both teams went down in order in the first inning, as the Blue Hens had a runner reach first in the bottom of the second, but starter Rachel Riley was able to get out of the inning.

In the top of the third, Chloe Lesko led off with a single and was moved into scoring position with a sac bunt off the bat of Madison Bauerle. Megan Huang then singled to the shortstop, but both runners were caught in between bases trying to advance and were tagged out, which ended the inning. In the bottom of the frame Ryleigh Thomas doubled to right center with one away and was brought in from a triple off the bat of Julz Garber.

The Quakers threatened in the top of the fifth as Dana Anderson led off the inning with a double as Jade Montgomery came in to pinch run. Although Sammy Fenton was able to reach on a fielder's choice, Mongomery was caught in between second and third and was tagged out. Penn's hottest hitter, Katie Reagan singled to center field, advancing Fenton to second. Lesko followed up with a single which loaded the bases. Bauerle then reached on a fielder's choice, but Fenton was out on the force at home. Penn could not score and left the bases loaded.

The Red and Blue had additional chances in the top of the sixth with back-to-back singles from Briann Brown and Delaney Smith. Julia Mortimer then moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. The Blue Hens made a pitching change and the next play Montgomery reached on a fielder's choice but both runners were once again caught in a jam on the bases. Maia Hartley, who pinch ran for Smith was tagged out at second base, and Brown was tagged out at third to end the inning.

The Quakers then went down in order in the top of the seventh, as the lone run in the third inning was enough to give Delaware the 1-0 win.

FINAL: Delaware 7, Penn 1
Penn started off the game with some traffic on the bases, as Smith was hit by a pitch and Fenton singled, to put two on with one out. With two outs the Quakers had the bases loaded and an eventual ground out ended the threat. The Blue Hens got on the board right away, as Gianna Costaro let one fly over the right field wall for a two-run homerun, leaving the score 2-0 at the end of the first.

Delaware added another run in the bottom of the second after a double, a fielder's choice and an error allowed another runner to cross the plate.

Chloe Blantz went yard in the bottom of the third, as the score now stood 4-0.

Penn went down in order in the top of the forth, which brought the Blue Hens back up to bat with momentum from the previous inning. Delaware made the game 5-0 on a single to led off the bottom of the frame, followed by a double down the left field line. Kelly Zybura took over in the circle for Payton Bean with one out in the fifth and got a ground out and line out to end the inning.

The Quakers got on the board in the top of the fifth inning, when Huang singled to center and Brown doubled down the left field line, allowing for two runners in scoring position. Smith hit a sacrifice fly to left field which advanced Brown to third and brought in Huang, as Penn trailed 4-1.

Delaware added two runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth, making the score 7-1.

Jillian Kuntze picked up her second hit of game two to lead off the seventh, and the Quakers eventually had runners on first and second with one out.  Dakota Farmer singled to right, but pinch runner Blake Landow was thrown out at the plate trying to score on the single, which resulted in the second out. A fly out then ended the game as Penn fell 7-1.

Quaker Notemeal

• In the game one loss, the Red and Blue out hit Delaware seven to four.
• Lesko had two base hits in game one, as Brown, Smith, Anderson, Reagan and Huang each had a knock.
• Anderson had the only extra-base hit for Penn, a double in the top of the fifth.
• The Quakers struck out just once in game one.
• Starter Riley went six innings, gave up just three hits, one earned run, while striking out one and walking a batter.
• In game two, Penn had six hits compared to Delaware's nine.
• Kuntze went 2-for-3 in game two, while Brown, Farmer, Fenton and Huang added hits.
• Smith drove in her sixth RBIof the year, with her sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth.
• Brown had the lone extra-base hit for the Quakers in game two, a double in the top of the fifth.
• Starter Bean went 3.1 innings, gave up five runs, four earned, struck out two and walked one batter.
• Zybura went 2.2 innings in relief, and surrendered to earned runs on four hits, while striking out two.

Up Next
Penn will begin Ivy League play this weekend. Cornell will visit Philadelphia, as a doubleheader will be played at 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 on Friday (changed from Saturday due to incoming inclement weather) and the series will conclude on Sunday with a first pitch beginning at 12:30 p.m. from Penn Park.