PHILADELPHIA- The University of Pennsylvania softball team fell twice on Saturday to begin its series against Yale. The Quakers dropped game one, 9-6, and were tripped up in game two, 4-3.

FINAL: Yale 6, Penn 9
The Red and Blue took an early 1-0 lead at Penn Park in the top of the first inning. Sammy Fenton singled to left field and came across to score when Dana Anderson sent one in the right center gap for an RBI double.

The Bulldogs tied it up in the top of the second when Sophie Woodridge took the first pitch of the at-bat for a ride and sent it over the centerfield wall. Yale continued the inning with a single, walk and a hit-by-pitch, but starting pitcher Payton Bean was able to get out of the bases-loaded jam without giving up an additional run.

Yale put up four runs on three hits in the top of the third. After the Bulldogs had runners on first and second with back-to-back singles, a dropped fly ball in right field allowed the bases to be loaded once again. The next at-bat, Willa Ferrer gave one a ride over the right field wall for a grand slam, as Yale took a 5-1 lead.

In the top of the fourth, after just one batter faced, Kelly Zybura entered the game in relief. A sacrifice bunt moved a runner into scoring position, who then advanced on a wild pitch.  A fielder's choice brought in SJ Mull, as Sophie Woodridge also reached safely via the fielder's choice. With two runners on, Ferrer singled down the right field line to score Carolyn Skotz, as the Bulldogs built a 7-1 lead.

Katie Reagan led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk, and Chloe Lesko was hit by a pitch to put two on with no outs for Julia Mortimer. Mortimer laid down the sacrifice bunt to advance both runners into scoring position. Now with two outs, Megan Huang blooped a single into left field, to score two, and make the game 7-3.

After a scoreless fifth and sixth innings, Yale got back on the board in the top of the seventh. With one out, Katie Donahey doubled and came around to score on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Mull, as the throw was dropped at first base. Back-to-back singles then produced an additional insurance run, as the Bulldogs extended the lead, 9-3.

Fenton was hit by the pitch to begin the bottom of the seventh. Anderson then collected her second knock of game one, as the Quakers started the frame with two on and no outs. Reagan dropped a single into center which loaded the bases. Lesko then snuck one past the pitcher, to record a single and an RBI, as Penn trailed, 9-4. Up next, Mortimer hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring a run, and moving both runners into scoring position. Madison Bauerle had a productive out as she grounded one to second base, which allowed Reagan to score and cut the deficit, 9-6. Huang then grounded out to first base to end the rally, as the Red and Blue fell short in their comeback attempt.

FINAL: Yale 4, Penn 3
Each side was held scoreless through the first two frames, as Yale broke the scoring open in the top of the third. Back-to-back singles and a walk made the bases full for Libby Peoples. Peoples reached on a fielder's choice, but a heads up play by Fenton at shortstop got the force-out at home to prevent a run from scoring. Woodridge was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing in the first run of the game. Ferrer then shot one to right field, scoring two, as Yale led 3-0.

The Quakers were held scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. Anderson led off the frame with a ground-rule double, which was backed by a Lesko single to put runners on the corners. Dakota Farmer lined one up the middle, which scored Anderson and Lesko, from first base, tying the game, 3-3. Farmer moved to second on a wild pitch, and Bauerle dropped one in for a knock, but both runners stayed put as back-to-back strikeouts-looking ended the frame.

Yale took the lead back in the top of the fifth after Olivia Szewczyk entered the game in relief of starter Rachel Riley. Skotz shot one up passed Penn's middle infielders and then stole second and third to put herself into prime scoring position. Peoples then dropped one into shallow center, as the Bulldogs put themselves ahead by a run.

Penn had a strong opportunity in the bottom of the sixth as Farmer collected a hit, which was followed by a Bauerle walk, and a Brianna Brown infield single to load the bases with only one out. A strikeout and a fly out then ended the threat, as the game stood 4-3 heading into the final frame.

The Quakers had momentum entering the bottom of the seventh, as a clean six-four-three double play ended a potential rally for the Bulldogs in the top of the frame. Anderson reached safely once again with a leadoff walk, and then advanced to second when Lesko executed the sacrifice bunt. With Reagan at the plate, the senior hit a hard ground ball to shortstop, and Blake Landow tried advancing to third, but was tagged out, resulting in the second out of the inning. Delaney Smith came in as a pinch hitter, who then swung at the first pitch grounding out to first base to end the comeback attempt, as Penn fell 4-3 in a tight contest.

Quaker Notemeal

• The Quakers totaled 11 hits in game one, one less than the Bulldogs. Anderson, Brown and Lesko each had two knocks.
• Fenton scored two of Penn's six runs, as Reagan, Lesko, Jade Montgomery and Maia Hartley each crossed the plate once.
• Huang had two RBI to lead the Red and Blue, Anderson, Lesko, Mortimer and Bauerle accounted for the other runs driven in.
• Bean went three innings, gave up five hits and five earned runs and struck out one in the loss. In relief, Zybura went four innings, surrendered seven hits and only one earned run, while striking out two.
• Brown pieced together three hits in game two, as Farmer added a pair.
• Lesko, Anderson and Reagan scored the three runs for the Quakers.
• Farmer collected two RBI, for her first career RBIs in game two, also setting a career-best with two knocks in the game.
• In the circle, starting pitcher Riley went four innings, giving up three runs, on three hits, striking out one, when she exited with the game tied 3-3. In relief, Szewczyk was handed the loss as she gave up three hits and one earned run in 1.1 innings pitched. Zybura closed out the day for the Quakers tossing the final 1.2 innings.

 
Up Next
The Quakers will conclude the series against the Bulldogs tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. at Penn Park. Prior to first pitch, Penn will honor its seven seniors; Anderson, Brown, Fenton, Mortimer, Reagan, Szewczyk and Jillian Kuntze for Senior Day.