PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The University of Pennsylvania softball team travelled south to partake in the opening day of the Lowcountry Classic, where they split with Western Carolina and Massachusetts. The Catamounts took down the Quakers, 13-3, while the Red and Blue bounced back, 7-5, against the Minutewomen.

Quaker Notemeal
* The Quakers got the youth of the roster playing time early and often to open 2026, with all six freshmen seeing action.

* Senior Delaney Smith is off to a good start, collecting three hits across the two games.

* Sophomore Ainsley Pemberton had a good opening game, collecting just two earned runs and four strikeouts across seven innings against UMass.
 
Western Carolina 13, Penn 3
The Quakers came out of the gates hot offensively to open the season. After allowing three runs in the top of the first inning, they bounced back to secure three of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Peyton Heisler got her season off on the right foot, producing two RBI's in this opening half inning on a two-run single.

The Catamounts would keep the offensive pressure on, however, putting up four more runs in the second inning off a little small ball and five in the fifth inning, making it the final inning of the game.
 
Penn 7, UMass 5
The second game of the day proved to be a far more balanced approach from the Quakers. Penn got on the board first in the second inning courtesy of two throwing errors. Freshman Hannah Graveline and junior Maia Hartley got on base via a double and a walk, respectively, to set up the two-run second frame.

After falling behind 4-2 in the fourth, senior Delaney Smith found space in right field for a two-run single, leveling the score.

The score would remain even until the sixth inning, when freshman Jaz Johnson secured her first collegiate RBI on a go-ahead single. Senior Smith would bring Johnson in to score, with fellow freshman Graveline walking in a run to give the Quakers their ending score of seven runs.

Sophomore Ainsley Pemberton delivered a huge performance on the mound, going seven strong while allowing two earned runs. Pemberton struck out four to cap off a great day from the second-year pitcher.
 
Up Next
The Quakers are back in action tomorrow for two more games, taking on Sacred Heart at 12:30 P.M. and Charleston Southern at 5:30 P.M.