Philadelphia, Pa. – The University of Pennsylvania softball team dropped its midweek matchup against Saint Joseph's in Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon, 8-5.

Despite getting out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and putting up four runs in the fifth to tie the game, the Red and Blue fell in a back-and-forth game on Hawk Hill.

FINAL: Saint Joseph's 8, Penn 5
The Quakers were aggressive at the plate in the opening frame, as Brianna Brown led off the game with a bloop single into shallow left and stole second to put herself into scoring position. Dana Anderson followed up with a single to left field to drive in Brown. After the top of the first, Penn led 1-0.

Saint Joseph's tied the game in the bottom of the third when leadoff batter Gianna Muhaw singled to left, followed by a single off the bat of Kayla Tauber, which put two on with no outs, as Muhaw advanced to third. A sacrifice fly to left led to the tying run crossing the plate. Rachel Riley then walked Riley York to load the bases which then promoted a pitching change. Payton Bean took over in the circle, walking the first batter she faced, Saint Joseph's took a 2-1 lead. The next at-bat a wild pitch brought in a run, and Sierra Fretz drove in another with a deep sac fly to left center. After three in Philadelphia, Saint Joseph's led 4-1.

The Quakers began the of the fifth with two on and no outs. Megan Huang and Brown walked to bring Delaney Smith to the plate. After Smith flied out, Katie Reagan drew the third walk of the inning to load the bases. Anderson collected an RBI with the fourth free pass of the frame, as Penn cut the lead, 4-2. The next at-bat, Sammy Fenton was hit by the pitch, which brought home Brown. Chloe Lesko then tied the game with an RBI groundout to second base. Julia Mortimer grounded one past the middle infielders to bring in Jade Montgomery as the go-ahead run, 5-4.

Saint Joseph's wasted no time getting back on the board. In the bottom of the frame, Nicole Bondoc singled up the middle and then stole second. A walk issued by Bean put two runners on with one out. As Haley McMenamin took off to steal second, and Bondoc went to steal third, a throwing error allowed Bondoc to score as the tying run. Fretz picked up her second RBI as she singled down the left field line, as the Hawks took the lead back, 6-5.

In the top of the sixth, Huang collected an infield hit and stole second to put a runner in scoring position with no outs, but the Quakers could not cross the plate, as the score remained the same.

Olivia Szewczyk entered the game for Penn in the bottom of the sixth as the third pitcher of the day for the Red and Blue. Saint Joseph's pieced together four singles throughout the inning to extend the lead, 8-5.

Down by three in the final frame, Fenton singled up the middle on a 3-0 count to give the Quakers a chance. With one out, Mortimer collected her third hit of the day with a single down the right field line, as Fenton moved to second. With Madison Bauerle as the tying run, the junior hit into a double play to end the game, as Penn fell 8-3.

Quaker Notemeal

• The Quakers totaled eight hits, as Mortimer had three knocks for the second time this season, which ties a career-high set in March.
• Brown, Reagan, Anderson, Fenton and Huang collected additional hits for Penn.
• Anderson had a pair of RBIs, as Fenton, Lesko and Mortimer drove in the other runs.
• Huang and Brown each had a stolen base.
• Starter, Riley went 2.1 innings, gave up five hits, four earned runs and struck out a batter. In relief, Bean tossed 2.2 innings, gave up three hits and two earned runs. Szewczyk pitched the final frame and surrendered four hits and two earned runs.

Up Next
Penn will get back to Ivy League play this weekend, as the Red and Blue host Yale. The Quakers and Bulldogs will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Penn Park. On Sunday Penn will have its senior day honoring eight players, with first pitch set for 12:30 p.m.