Cambridge, Mass. – The University of Pennsylvania softball team dropped both games of the doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, 9-5 and 7-5 from Soldiers Field.

Despite a 4-0 lead for Penn in game one, and being down three in game two, and using a four run fifth to take a 5-3 lead, Harvard mounted late-game comebacks in both contests to prevail in Cambridge.

FINAL: Harvard 9, Penn 5
The Quakers were aggressive from the start in game one of the twin bill, scoring in the top of the first inning. Batting in the leadoff spot, freshman Chloe Lesko was hit by a pitch and advanced to second when Brianna Brown laid down a sacrifice bunt. Dana Anderson then doubled down the left field line to put two in scoring position. Sammy Fenton jumped on the first pitch and grounded it up the middle, scoring a pair.

Starting pitcher Rachel Riley surrendered a one out double and a walk but got a fly out and a fielder's choice to end the threat.

Penn picked up right where they left off in the top of the second. Madison Bauerle singled, which caused an early exit for the Crimson starting pitcher Katie Arrambide. Nicolette Hunter took over in the circle and in the first batter she faced, Blake Landow placed a bunt up the third base line, beating the throw for a hit. Megan Huang then moved both runners into scoring position with a ground out. Brown found the outfield grass with a single up the middle, scoring Bauerle and Landow, doubling the Quakers' lead, 4-0.

Riley evaded trouble once again in the bottom of the second. After giving up back-to-back singles, the junior got the ground ball right to herself, in which she fielded cleanly to end the jam.

Harvard was able to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Finley Payne led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Maya Douglas singled through the left side, advancing Payne to third. Red hot hitter Priyanka Kaul hit a sacrifice fly to right, as the Crimson cut the deficit, 4-1. Allison O'Heany kept the inning going for Harvard with a single to left, moving Douglas into scoring position. Riley got the second out on a fielder's choice but walked leadoff batter Lauren Bobowski to load the bases for one of the Ivy's best rookies, Sophie Sun. Sun roped a triple in the right center gap to clear the bases and tie the game, 4-4. Harvard then took the lead when Madi Mays dropped a knock into right field, scoring Sun. Olivia Szewczyk entered the game for Riley and got the final out of the frame to keep the game at bay.

With two outs in the top of the fifth, Sammy Fenton snuck a line drive down the first base side, that kicked into the right field corner, allowing Fenton to round the bases for an inside the park home run, tying the game, 5-5.

After a walk and an error at second base, the Crimson had two runners on with no outs. Szewczyk surrendered a two RBI single to left off the bat of Kaul, as Harvard took a 7-5 lead. With two runners once again on, The Quakers made another change in the circle as Payton Bean entered as the third pitcher of game one. A double and a sacrifice fly plated another set of runs, and at the end of the fifth, Harvard amassed a 9-5 lead.

FINAL: Harvard 7, Penn 5
After both teams were held scoreless throughout the first frame, the Crimson took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Douglas led off the inning with a walk and then took second on a wild pitch, Kaul drew the second walk of the frame as Bean's day was short lived in game two. Kelly Zybura entered the game to try and limit the damage. With runners on the corners, Douglas evaded a tag at home and recorded the stolen base, while O'Heany took off for second. Bobowski singled to left, and a fielding error allowed O'Heany to score.

In the bottom of the third Payne singled through the right side and scored on a stand up double off the bat of Douglas, as the Crimson went up 3-0.

The Quakers were able to get a run back in the top of the fourth when Brown grounded one to the shortstop, and an errant throw allowed Brown to scramble all the way to third. Smith plated the first run of game two for the Red and Blue with a sacrifice fly to bring home Brown.

With one out in the top of the fifth, Penn worked the bases loaded after Jillian Kuntze was hit by a pitch and Huang and Lesko worked back-to-back walks. Brown collected her first RBI of the day after drawing the bases loaded walk, to cut the deficit, 3-2. Harvard made a pitching change, bringing in winning pitcher from game one, Hunter, to face Smith. Smith launched her second sacrifice fly of the game to score Huang for her second RBI, tying the game, 3-3. Dakota Farmer reached on an error at first, scoring Lesko for the 4-3 lead. Fenton continued the inning with a single to third, scoring Brown. The Red and Blue were able to produce four runs on a single hit, to grab a 5-3 advantage heading into the home half of the fifth.

Sun walked with two outs in the bottom of the sixth and took third on a single by Mays. Savannah Fitzpatrick tripled to right field, bringing in a pair of runners to tie the game, 5-5. The Crimson then took the lead on an error at short, bringing in an unearned run. Now with two runners on after Douglas drew a walk, Head Coach Christie Novatin once again went to her bullpen to bring in Riley with two away. The third hit of the inning brought in the fourth run of the sixth for Harvard, who jumped ahead, 7-5.

Down a pair with three outs left, Smith punched one through the right side for a one-out knock. Farmer drew a walk, and Fenton Advanced both runners into scoring position with a grounder to short. On the next play, Katie Reagan grounded out to end the game, as the score stood 7-5.

Quaker Notemeal

• In game one the Red and Blue totaled eight hits, as Fenton led the way with two.
• Five different Quakers scored in the 9-5 game one loss.
• Fenton's inside the park home run in the top of the fifth in game one is the first of the season for the senior and the fourth of her career.
• Fenton totaled three RBI, while Brown added a pair in game one.
• Riley, who got the nod in game one, went 3.2 innings, gave up five earned runs on seven hits, while striking out one.
• Szewczyk tossed two-thirds of an inning, surrendered just two hits but three earned runs. Bean, who was the second relief arm, threw 1.2 frames of scoreless ball.
• Penn totaled three hits in game two, as Fenton added two and Smith contributed with a knock.
• Smith also had two of Penn's four RBI, with a pair of sac flies, Brown and Fenton drove in the additional runs.
• Brown scored twice, while Lesko, Kuntze and Huang crossed the plate once in game two.
• Bean started game two and went one inning and gave up one earned run on a pair of hits, while striking out a batter.
• In relief, Zybura threw 4.2, surrendered three earned runs on seven hits. Riley got the final out of the sixth without giving up a run.

Up Next
The Quakers will return to Penn Park this week with a Wednesday matchup against Villanova. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.