PHILADELPHIA- The University of Pennsylvania softball team swept a doubleheader against Coppin State on Friday evening, taking down Coppin State, 5-4 (8) and 6-0 at Penn Park in its home opener.

In game one, the Quakers walked it off in the bottom of the ninth inning, as Dani Freer was able to score from second off an error made in center field. As for game two, Payton Bean twirled her first career complete-game shutout to lead the Red and Blue to victory.

With the pair of wins Penn moves to 4-9 as Coppin State falls to 4-6.

FINAL/9: Penn 5, Coppin State 4
Penn struck first in the bottom of the second, as three straight walks prompted a two-out bases loaded opportunity for freshman Megan Huang. Huang doubled up the middle, scoring two, to give the Quakers the 2-0 lead.
 

Moments later, Penn was able to tack on two more, as an errant throw on a pickoff attempt at third was unsuccessful, both Huang and Jillian Kuntze scored.

The game remained 4-0 until the top of the fifth, where the Eagles were able to get their first hit off starter Rachel Riley. Back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt led to two runners in scoring position. Avianna Peterson drove in a run with a single to shortstop, and then took second the next play, while Julianna Mejia stole home, making the score 4-2. Coppin State followed it up with a single, a sacrifice fly and a double, tying the game 4-4. Riley exited the game and Ella Utschig was able to snag the final out of the frame.

The Eagles produced traffic on the bases once again in the top of the seventh, with runners on first and second and a chance to take the lead late in the game, but reliever Olivia Szewczyk escaped the jam with a strikeout to end the threat.
 

With a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh the Quakers went down in order, sending the game to extras.

In the top of the eighth, Brooklyn Tapusoa reached on an error and advanced to second on the throw. Mejia singled through the left side resulting in runners on the corners and no outs. Riley re-entered the game in the circle, and eventually got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, Penn went down 1-2-3, sending the game into the ninth.

Riley added two more strikeouts in the top of the ninth and got a ground out to set up Penn in the home half of the frame.

Kuntze started off the bottom of the ninth with a single, as Dani Freer came in to pinch run. Huang lofted a hard-hit ball into center, and on a diving attempt in centerfield, the ball hit off the outfielder's glove and rolled all the way to the wall, allowing Freer to touch home. Although it took extras and two hours and 30 minutes, the Quakers walked it off, which ultimately set the tone for game two.

FINAL: Penn 6, Coppin State 0
The Red and Blue picked up right where they left off, jumping on the Eagles in the bottom of the second. Dana Anderson singled and advanced on the throw, as Jade Montgomery came in to pinch run. A ground out moved Montgomery up 60 feet, and she was brought in via a sacrifice bunt laid down by Katie Reagan.

In the bottom of the fourth, singles from Sammy Fenton and Reagan set things up for Kuntze, who doubled to right center, scoring Fenton. Maia Hartley grounded out to first which brought home Regan, making the game 3-0. A single from Brianna Brown scored Kuntze. Brown put herself into scoring position by stealing second and came across to score on double to the right side from Delaney Smith, extending the lead, 5-0.

Penn added insurance in the home half of the sixth after Hartley walked and stole second. She was driven in on a double to right center from Huang.
 

Starter Payton Bean was able to go the distance, sending down Coppin State in order in the top of the seventh to complete the complete game shutout; the first of her career. Bean struck out four and gave up just four hits in the 6-0 win for the Quakers.

Quaker Notemeal

• Kuntze collected two hits for Penn in game one, as Brown, Anderson, and Huang each added a base knock.
• Huang drove in both RBIs for the Quakers in game one.
• The Red and Blue walked eight times and struck out just twice in the 5-4 win in game one.
• Penn stole five bases in the opening game, with Lesko and Hartley each stealing two.
• Riley tossed 6.2 innings (her longest outing this season), and gave up five hits, four runs and struck out six in her first win of the year.
• In game two, the Quakers scored six runs off nine hits, while six individuals each had RBIs.
• Brown and Huang each had two hits in Penn's 6-0 win in game two.
• Hartley ended the doubleheader with three stolen bases, putting her total at five for the season.
• Bean went seven innings, allowed just four hits, struck out four and surrendered one walk in the shutout.
• The 6-0 win in game two marks the first time the Quakers have shut out an opponent this season.

Up Next
Penn will wrap up the three-game series against Coppin State on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. start time at Penn Park.