PHILADELPHIA— The University of Pennsylvania softball team opened their Ivy League schedule at Yale earlier this afternoon, the Bulldogs sweeping the Quakers in the doubleheader.
Final: Yale 12, Penn 10
Yale opened up the scoring in the first inning, Lauren Perren and Ella Gandolfo scoring on a single to center field by Donahey. The Bulldogs picked up right where they left off in the first inning, plating two more runs in the second inning on a double by Perren to increase Yale's lead to 4-0.
Penn fought right back in the third, with Megan Huang and Madison Bauerle earning two straight walks to put runners on base for Jade Montgomery. Montgomery sent a single to shortstop, reaching first and advancing both runners on the play. Bases loaded for Rachel Riley, she sent a ball to center field to score Huang with ease and loading the bases again. Roisin Keenan came in to pinch run for Riley as Gigi Ganje took her stance in the box. Keenan was called out on the fielder's choice due to interference, sending Montgomery back to second and Bauerle back to third. Bases loaded again with one out, Ella Utschig put the ball in play, reaching on a fielder's choice as Yale threw Bauerle out at the plate. Dani Freer took the dish, sending a double to right-center field to score Montgomery and Ganje. Utschig was thrown out trying to snag third on the throw to the plate, ending the top of the inning for the Quakers. Yale went back to the dugout, clinging to their lead, 4-3.
The Elis built on their lead in their half of the third, Sophie Woodridge knocking in Isabella Fortini with a double to get things going with one out on the board. As the inning progressed, Gandolfo worked a walk with the bases loaded to bring in Woodridge to score the sixth run for Yale. At the end of the third, the Bulldogs led, 6-3.
In the fourth, the Red and Blue kept the offensive momentum going with Alexis Youngren working a walk. Subsequently stealing second base, she put herself in scoring position for Bauerle. Sending a single through the right side, the Quakers tacked on their fourth run of the game as Youngren crossed the plate. Despite their fight offensively, the game started to get away from Penn in the bottom half of the inning, as Yale scored five runs to extend their lead to 11-4.
The Quakers stepped back into the batter's box in the sixth, refusing to go away quietly. Huang worked a walk, and Bauerle doubled into left field to put runners on the corners with one out on the board for Montgomery. She singled back to the pitcher, scoring Huang on the play and advancing Bauerle to third for Rachel Riley. Riley took her stance in the box, taking a deep breath and letting loose the swing of her career. Watching as the ball sailed over the fence in right center field, Riley beamed ear to ear, her teammates rushing out of the dugout to embrace her at the plate. As a senior, Riley hit her first collegiate home run to put the Quakers right back in the game, cutting Yale's lead, 11-8.
The Bulldogs added one more run in their half of the sixth, bringing the Red and Blue back to the plate for the seventh. Youngren led off the inning with a walk, Bauerle grounding out on a fielder's choice to move her to second, though her position on the base path didn't matter. Jade Montgomery sent a moonshot to center field, the ball clanging off the roof on the building behind the fence, bringing Penn within two of the Elis. The Quakers falling just short in the first game, Yale pulled out the win by the skin of their teeth.
Final: Yale 9, Penn 0
Yale and Penn were deadlocked through the first inning, but the Bulldogs resumed their offensive crusade from the first game in the second inning of game two. Executing on small-ball offense, Elena Ohe sent a ground ball to pitcher Payton Bean, who threw her out at first, allowing SJ Mull and Sophie Woodridge to advance while Isabella Fortini scored. With Bean hurt on the play, Ainsley Pemberton came in to throw for the Quakers after pitching in game one. Maddie Latta singled through the left side to bring Mull and Woodridge home. Lauren Perren doubled to right center, clearing the bases to tack on two more for the Bulldogs. Katie Donahey singled to center field, bringing Perren home. At the end of the second inning, the Eils led the Red and Blue, 7-0.
Yale's offense resumed in the fourth inning, Perren coming up big at the plate with a triple down the right field line to bring home Ella Gandolfo. Ella Cross singled through the gap into center field to score Ava Kang, tallying the eighth run of the game for the Bulldogs. Mull sealed the game for the Elis with a single of her own, bringing Donahey across the plate for the ninth and final run of the game. Called after five innings, Yale won game two 9-0 to sweep the doubleheader.
Up Next
The Quakers will conclude their weekend in New Haven tomorrow, playing their third game of the series at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.
For the latest on Penn Softball, follow @Penn_Softball on X and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.
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