PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania baseball team took down Lafayette 13-3 in seven innings on Tuesday at Tommy Lasorda Field at Meiklejohn Stadium to clinch a spot in the Liberty Bell Classic title game. The Quakers will face the winner of Saint Joseph's versus Rider at Citizens Bank Park on April 21.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Program history was made on Tuesday in University City, as senior infielder Ryan Taylor broke the program record for stolen bases. Previously held by Doug Glanville (1989-91), Taylor eclipsed the milestone with his third stolen bag of the outing and the 59^th of his career. The Elmer, N.J. native stole four times against Lafayette and now has 60 stolen bags for his career.
 
*In addition to a stellar day on the basepath, Taylor notched two hits on Tuesday for three RBIs and three runs scored. He also drew two walks.

*Sophomore infielder Michael Powell led the offense with three hits, three runs scored, and an RBI against the Leopards.
 
*Nick Spaventa carried his hot form into the midweek matchup, tallying two hits, two RBIs, and a run scored. The junior logged the first triple of his career in the second inning that handed Penn a 6-0 lead.

*Jay Secretarski, Jarrett Pokrovsky, Gavin Degnan, Nick Guachione and Matthew Pazak all tallied a base knock to account for the Red and Blue's 12 hits.

*Sophomore right-hander Connor Darling earned his first win of the season on the mound in his first start this campaign.

*Ben Moulin, Nick Newburn, Thomas Egbert, Josh Katz and John Cerwinski all appeared on the hill during Tuesday's victory.
 
How It Happened
Darling got off to a hot start in the first inning, notching two strikeouts to send the visitors back to the dugout in order.
 
The Quakers took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame on two hits. Secretarski made his way to first base on a walk, but didn't hang around for long as the freshman quickly stole second. Pokrovsky was next up, and his RBI triple to right field drove in Penn's first run of the afternoon. Spaventa made it a 2-0 Quakers' advantage in the next at-bat with a double down the left-field line.

Penn's offensive momentum carried into the second inning as it snatched a 6-0 lead on three hits and an error. The first run of the frame was driven in by Taylor's single to right field and the second crossed home plate thanks to Secretarski's sac fly. Taylor then moved into scoring position after stealing second and third and was sent home after Pokrovsky reached on an error at first base. Spaventa capped off a four-run inning with his first career triple that scored Pokrovsky.

Lafayette notched its first run of the day in the third frame courtesy of a solo home run from Luke Caucci.
 
The Red and Blue picked up right where they left off in the bottom of the third, tacking on three more runs on four hits. Powell and Pazak knocked back-to-back singles to the shallow outfield prior to advancing into scoring position on a passed ball. Taylor then stepped to the plate and ripped a two-RBI single to right field, allowing Powell and Pazak to cross home plate. The third run was batted in by Secretarski, giving Taylor plenty of time to make his way home.

Lafayette scored two runs in the fourth inning, and it all started with a leadoff walk by Brandon Doubek. Another walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Leopards, leaving Teddy Cashman with work to do at the dish. The outfielder proceeded to rip a single to right field, which let Doubek and Boden Fernsler dash home. Egbert navigated his way out of the frame by getting Will Dobil to pop up to left field.
 
Penn made it a 10-3 ballgame by scoring on an error in the fifth frame and the offense remained hot as the action entered the sixth. Powell's RBI triple extended the lead to eight runs (11-3) and he scored during the next at-bat when Pazak reached on an error at first base.

The hosts secured the run-rule victory over the Maroon and White with two hits in the seventh inning. Spaventa drew a walk to get things going, but then quickly made it to third base thanks to Degnan's double down the right-field line. With two runners in scoring position, Guachione's walk-off single down the left-field line sent Spaventa home to grant the Red and Blue a trip to the Liberty Bell Classic title game on April 21 at Citizens Bank Park.

Penn now awaits the winner of tomorrow's matchup between Rider and Saint Joseph's to determine their opponent.
 
Up Next
The Quakers return to Tommy Lasorda Field at Meiklejohn Stadium for more Ivy League action against Cornell this weekend. Penn is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. starts for Saturday's doubleheader and the final matchup with the Bears is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.
 
For the latest on Penn baseball, follow @PennBaseball on X (formerly Twitter), @Penn_Baseball on Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.