PHILADELPHIA— The University of Pennsylvania softball team routed the Drexel Dragons in a statement win today, needing only five innings to complete the 16-7 victory.

Collecting their second win of the year, the Quakers look to build on the commanding win this weekend when they face off against Brown at Penn Park.

Final: Penn 16, Drexel 7 (after 5 innings)
Penn got their offense going early, Megan Huang and Madison Bauerle working a walk each to put two on the base path for power-hitter Jade Montgomery. Hitting her fourth home run of the year, she sent the ball over the fence in center field to put the Quakers ahead, 3-0.

Drexel fought back in the second inning, evening the score after a couple of errors by the Red and Blue. In the third, Penn loaded the bases for shortstop Dani Freer. She sent the ball to center field, deep enough to score pinch runner Blake Landow to take the lead again, 4-3. The Dragons scored two in the bottom of the inning, bringing the score to 5-4 in favor of Drexel.

The Quakers ran away with the game in the fourth inning, going on an offensive tear. The bases loaded, Rachel Riley poked the ball up the middle to bring Huang and Bauerle home and move Montgomery to third. As Bauerle crossed the plate, she could be heard rallying her teammates, shouting "I want more!", collecting high-fives through the dugout.

The inning continued with two in scoring position for freshman center fielder Gigi Ganje, who smacked the ball up the left field line to bring in Montgomery and move Riley to third, taking second on the throw to the infield. Second baseman Roisin Kennan singled to center field, collecting her first career RBI as Riley crossed the plate. Freer took the box, notching her second hit of the day to score Maia Hartley and Keenan. Bauerle stepped up to the plate for her second time in the inning, sending the ball into right center field to score catcher Lexi Youngren and Freer. Montgomery put the ball in play, reaching first on an error while Huang completed her third lap around the base path. Riley put the ball through the right side of the infield, Bauerle crossing the plate once more. Ganje singled down the right field line, bringing Montgomery in for Penn's fifteenth run of the afternoon. As the top half of the fourth closed, the Quakers had routed the Dragons, leading 15-5.

Pitcher Ainsley Pemberton held strong in the circle, only allowing two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, protecting the Red and Blue's eight-run lead. In the top of the fifth, Bauerle scored Freer for an added insurance run, bringing the score to 16-7 as the Dragons stepped up to bat in the fifth. Pemberton closed out the game, only facing four batters in the fifth to secure the win.

Up Next
Penn will remain in Philadelphia this weekend in their conference series against Brown starting with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 29.

For the latest on Penn Softball, follow @Penn_Softball on X and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.

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