Providence, R.I. – The University of Pennsylvania softball team fell in the opening game against Brown 10-2, to begin the final series of the season.

Despite a late-game push in the top of the fifth, Penn fell short to begin the three-game set. 

FINAL: Brown 10, Penn 2
After the Quakers went down in order in the top of the first, the Bears came out swinging in the home half of the frame. Laurel Moody led off with a single to left and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. The next play, Jasmine Hsiao hit a shallow pop up to right that was dropped, allowing Hsiao to make it to second as Moody landed on third. Dara English followed up with a single to left, bringing in the first run of the game. Cameron Zytkewicz Ray flew out to shallow center, and a high throw from Brianna Brown allowed Hsiao to evade the tag and score. Brown then added back-to-back singles, to extend the lead, 3-0.

The Red and Blue's potential threat in the top of the second was cut short when a line drive off the bat of Katie Reagan was snagged by pitcher Alexis Guevara and tossed to first to double up Landow.

Rachel Riley entered the circle in the bottom of the second for Payton Bean and sent down the Bears in order, cooling down the bats of Brown.

The Bears got back on the board in the bottom of the third when Hsiao drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second with her Ivy League-leading 16th stolen base of the season. A fielding error allowed Zytkewicz Ray to reach, moving Hsiao to third. Moe Kastens grabbed her second single of the day, this time through the right side, as Hsiao scored. Back-to-back singles up the middle produced the fifth run of the game for Brown and loaded then the bases. Now with two outs, Moody hit a fly ball down the right field side that snuck just inside the foul line, clearing the bases for a three-RBI triple. Olivia Szewczyk entered in relief to get the final out of the frame. After three complete, Brown led, 8-0.

With seemingly their last chance in the top of the fifth, Dakota Farmer reached on an error at first, and Megan Huang followed up with a soft grounder hit to the right side in which she beat out for Penn's second hit of the day. Now with two outs, and the Quakers down to their final opportunity, Madison Bauerle singled to right center, scoring Farmer, and getting the Red and Blue on the board. The following at-bat, Brown singled through the right side as Huang scored from third. Penn prevented the shutout, and collected two runs on three hits, as the score stood, 8-2.

After surrendering a leadoff double in the bottom of the fifth, Kelly Zybura entered the game as the fourth pitcher utilized on the day. Leah Carey singled up the middle and stole second to put two in scoring position. A hit by pitch loaded the bases and then Moody collected her fourth RBI of the day with a single to left, making the score, 9-2. With the bases still loaded, Hsiao drew a four-pitch walk to end the game on an RBI free pass.

Quaker Notemeal

• Penn had four hits, Brown had two and Bauerle and Huang each had a knock.
• Brown and Bauerle had two RBI for the Quakers.
• Starting pitcher, Bean went one inning giving up four hits and two earned runs. Riley added 1.2 innings in relief, surrendering four hits, five runs with only one being earned.
• In the later innings, Szewczyk tossed 1.1, allowing two hits and one earned run. The final pitcher was Zybura, who went the final two-thirds of the game, giving up a pair of knocks and an earned run.

Up Next
The Quakers will wrap up the 2024 season with a doubleheader tomorrow. Game one will begin at 12:30 p.m. from Brown Softball Field in Providence.