PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The University of Pennsylvania softball team continued play at the Lowcountry Classic tournament, taking down Sacred Heart, 9-8, and Charleston Southern, 5-1.
 
Quaker Notemeal
* Sophomore Gigi Ganje is off to a fantastic start on the year. She has six hits through four games, including two home runs and seven RBI's.

* Penn is off to its best start since 2020, when the Quakers also opened the year 3-1.

* After striking out 22 batters in 19 appearances during the 2025 season, junior Kelly Zybura has already struck out ten through two games.
 
Penn 9, Sacred Heart 8
A back-and-forth game until the end, this game shows the kind of resolve the Quakers possess. After falling behind 7-0 early, the Quakers started to chip away in the third inning. Sophomore Gigi Ganje and senior Delaney Smith got the party started with back-to-back home runs, bringing the deficit to five after three innings.

The fourth inning saw the Quakers grab two more runs, courtesy of a Ganje sacrifice fly and a Maia Hartley stolen base.

Down four runs entering the sixth inning, sophomore Ganje continued her great day, homering for the second time and bringing in two runs.

In the seventh and final inning, the Quakers got players on base early, with freshman Tannar Keenan doubling and junior Megan Huang singling. Fellow freshman Caroline Putnam then singled to center field, bringing in a run.

Following a base-loading knock from Jaz Johnson, Ganje ended her career day with a walk-off double to give the Quakers a 9-8 victory. Ganje would end the game going 3-4, with two home runs and six RBI's.
 
Penn 5, Charleston Southern 1
Following an impressive comeback win that featured high-level offense, the Quakers' second game of the day was all about the pitching. Junior Kelly Zybura had a stellar showing.

Zybura, after having 22 K's in 19 showings last season, already has ten through two appearances. In this one, Zybura allowed one earned run in seven full innings, striking out three while not allowing a free pass.

The Quakers defense stepped up behind their starter, accruing nine fly outs and eight ground outs with no errors.

The Quakers five runs came in the second and sixth innings, when sophomore Alexis Youngren delivered a sacrifice fly for one run and a bunt later for another. Jaz Johnson and sophomore Ganje delivered the other three RBI's to cap off a great day of Quaker softball.
 
Up Next
The Quakers end their trip to South Carolina at noon tomorrow, when they play tournament host College of Charleston.