CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The University of Pennsylvania softball team took down Harvard in game three of the series, 9-8, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
 
Quaker Notemeal
* This is the Quakers' first win against Harvard since 2019 and first win in Cambridge since 2010.
 
* Jade Montgomery is getting hot at the dish once again, going 3-for-4 with a double and a home run.
 
* Caroline Putnam continues to hit her stride, collecting two hits and three RBI today, including the go-ahead, game-winning run.
 
How It Happened
As the final box score would indicate, this contest was far more of a marathon than a sprint, as the final runtime of the game was just shy of three hours. It was a bit of déjà vu for the Quakers to start game three, as Harvard opened the first inning with a 2-0 lead after a home run by Finley Payne.
 
Jade Montgomery would not be deterred by the quick Crimson start and delivered the first Quaker run of the day with a solo shot on the first pitch of the second inning. That long ball would spark a massive inning for the Quakers, with the lineup batting around and a number of Quakers scoring in a variety of ways. Peyton Heisler earned a spot on the basepaths after getting hit by a pitch, Hannah Graveline, Caroline Putnam, and Jade Montgomery singled, Megan Huang and Gigi Ganje walked, Jaz Johnson reached on a fielder's choice, and Delaney Smith doubled to round out what was a five hit, six run second inning to make it 6-2, Penn.
 
To start the climb back into this one, Harvard deployed a small ball approach in the bottom of the third, getting the first three batters of the inning on base with two bunts and a single with no outs. The Crimson would capitalize, bringing three home in the inning to cut Penn's lead to one.
 
The Quakers would have their turn at the back and forth when they scored three more runs in the fourth inning. Caroline Putnam, who has had a great handful of games at the plate as of late, golfed a ball into left field with bases loaded. The weather, which had been rainy and misty for most of the day, allowed the ball to squeak past the left fielder and cleared the Penn bases to go up 9-5.
 
Once more, the Crimson were up to the challenge and answered with another three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning off a Hannah Ziecik home run. The Crimson also tried to add to their eight-run total in the bottom of the seventh, but stranded two runners on base.
 
Harvard made one final push at the end of the game, putting two runners on in the bottom of the seventh. However, the Quakers were able to close down the game and secure the win.
 
Up Next
Penn will close out non-conference play against the Villanova Wildcats Wednesday at Penn Park, with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 p.m.