PHILADELPHIA— The University of Pennsylvania softball team opened play in the Mizuno Classic at Palmer Park on the campus of the University of Virginia earlier today. Playing games against Virginia and Delaware, Penn fell to 1-3 on the season with the losses.
The Quakers opened their tournament against the Virginia Cavaliers this morning, falling 5-1 after Kelly Zybura threw four scoreless innings against the nationally recognized program (receiving votes). The Red and Blue had a short turnaround before facing the Delaware Blue Hens this evening, where they were shutout 8-0.
Final: Virginia 5, Penn 1
Penn started the game at the plate, Madison Bauerle leading off and reaching on a fielding error by Virginia's Reece Holbrook. Dani Freer laid down a successful sacrifice bunt, advancing Bauerle to second. Gigi Ganje stepped up to the plate, but flew out to right field, Bauerle unable to advance. Rachel Riley went down swinging, sending the Quakers back on defense without capitalizing on the error.
Senior Abbie Stellrecht stepped into the circle, striking out leadoff hitter Jade Hylton and forcing groundouts from Kelly Ayer and Bella Cabral to end the first. Ella Utschig began the inning, sending a ball up the middle for a single. Caught stealing on the run from first to second, Utschig was sent back to the dugout as Maia Hartley stepped into the batter's box. She grounded out to third, making way for Morgan Sullivan with two outs. Eager to keep the inning alive, Sullivan struck out swinging, sending Zybura back to the circle.
Zybura picked up where she left off, forcing a groundout for Macee Eaton. Next hitter M.C. Eaton became the first baserunner of the game for the Cavaliers, reaching on a fielding error by Ella Utschig and stealing second not long after. Catcher Sarah Coon hit a ground ball to second, advancing Eaton to third on the play while being thrown out at first. Zybura took command back to earn the third out herself, striking out Sydney Hartgrove.
The Quakers opened the inning with Abbie Stellrecht earning a walk. Alexis Youngren laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Stellrecht to second. Bauerle stepped up for her second at-bat of the game, sending a ball through the hole in the left side for a single, putting runners on the corners for Freer with only one out on the board. Freer sent a fly ball into center field, scoring Stellrecht as the ball was caught for the out. Ganje was awarded first after being hit by a pitch, sending Bauerle to second. With two runners on, Riley sent a ground ball to third base, ending the top of the third with the Red and Blue on top, 1-0.
Zybura kept the Cavaliers in-line, not allowing a hit until the fifth inning. After a popout and foul out in the inning, Holbrook reached first on a fielding error by Utschig. Kailyn Jones then started the offense for Virginia, hitting a triple to score Holbrook, tying the game and ending Zybura's no-no bid. Hylton then hit a triple of her own, giving the Cavaliers their first lead of the day. Ayer popped out to end the inning, but the damage had already been done. Virginia led Penn, 2-1 at the end of the fifth inning.
Freer led off the sixth inning for the Quakers with a single to left field. Ganje flew out on a ball to center, bringing Riley back to the plate. She grounded into a double play, ending the top of the sixth.
Zybura stepped into the circle for the sixth inning, which was exactly what Virginia wanted. Cabral sent a solo shot over the center field fence to open the inning, extending the Cavalier's lead, 4-1. Zybura worked to regain control of the game, M. Eaton fouling out in along the left field line. M. C. Eaton earned a walk, Kamyria Woody-Giggets coming in to pinch-run at first. Fast on her feet, she stole second, despite a rope throw from Youngren behind the plate. Sarah Coon sent a fly ball to center field, caught for an out by Ganje and thrown to the infield quickly to keep Woody-Giggets at second. Hartgrove stepped into the box, sending a single up the middle to score Woody-Giggets. Kelsey Hackett came in as a pinch runner for Hartgrove at first, stealing second not long after. Holbrook then sent a ball into center field for a double, trading places with Hackett as the Cavalier's lead was extended again, 5-1. A groundout from Jones ended the inning as the Quakers hoped to extend the game beyond the top of the seventh.
Utschig got the Red and Blue off to a good start, singling into right center. Hartley hit a single of her own through the left side, advancing Utchig to second as she took first. Sullivan struck out for the first out of the inning, and Stellrecht flew out to left field for the second out. Youngren, hoping to keep the game alive, stepped into the box. She fouled off a ball along the third base line, which was caught for the final out, sealing the game for Virginia.
Final: Delaware 8, Penn 0
The home team in this matchup, Penn took the field first. Ainsley Pemberton started in the circle for the Quakers, keeping the Blue Hens at bay through the first two innings. Struggling offensively, both teams were deadlocked until Delaware stepped into the box to start the third inning. Marlayana Capaldi was awarded first after being hit by a pitch. Grace Hausamann laid down a sacrifice bunt, but ultimately reached first after a fielding error by Utschig, Capaldi also advancing to second on the play. After a flyout from Katie Scheivert, Mary Beth Calahan earned a walk, loading the bases. Sydney Shaffer flew out for the second out of the inning, making way for Gianna Costaro. Costaro sent a single through the left side, bringing home Hausamann and Capaldi. Chloe Blantz flew out to end the inning, but not before Delaware took a 2-0 lead in the game.
The Quakers' offensive struggles continued into the bottom of the third, setting up the Blue Hens to go back on offense. Morgan Hess was hit by a pitch and awarded first, advancing to second after a ball got by Youngren behind the plate. Pemberton earned a strikeout against Ellie Mulligan, only for Capaldi to come back to the plate and smack a double down the third base line, scoring Hess. Rachel Riley relieved Pemberton after 3.1 innings. Hausamann laid down a sacrifice bunt, successfully advancing Capaldi to third base. Scheivert earned a walk, putting runners on the corners for Calahan. Schievert quickly stole second. Calahan hit a double into center field, scoring Capaldi and Schievert to extend the Blue Hens' lead. Shaffer stepped into the box and hit a single through the left side, scoring Calahan. Costaro ended the top of the fourth inning with a flyout to left center field, Delaware leading Penn, 6-0.
The offensive action resumed in the top of the sixth, the Blue Hens gaining some traction again after a ground out from Capaldi in the leadoff spot. Hausamann sent a single through the left side, advancing to second on a passed ball. Schievert doubled to right center, scoring Hausamann. Schievert advanced to third on a wild pitch, scoring after an error by Youngren to bring the score to 8-0. Shaffer then matched Schievert with a double of her own, but was left stranded as pinch-hitter Olivia Marinucci struck out.
Gigi Ganje sent a single up the middle to start the bottom of the sixth for the Quakers, advancing to second on a single from Utschig. Riley laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing both runners for a chance to keep the game alive. Sullivan stepped into the box, sending a pop-up to the shortstop that was caught for an out. Maia Hartley came up to the plate, striking out to end the game.
Up Next
The Quakers take the field against Delaware again tomorrow morning (11 a.m.) before a rematch with tourney host Virginia at 1:30 p.m.
For the latest on Penn Softball, follow @Penn_Softball on X and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.
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