Penn softball takes South division control

Entering into a weekend series with Princeton, Penn softball was in a tight race for the South Division crown.

But after winning three of its four contests against the Tigers, the Quakers are now sitting pretty, with a 2.5-game lead over trailing Columbia.

Penn (15-17, 10-5 Ivy) made the most of its road series against Princeton (15-24, 7-9).

The weekend began on Saturday with the first two of the Quakers’ four games.

Penn stole the first game, beating the Tigers, 11-1. While Princeton got the first run in the first inning, the Quakers matched it in the second with a home run from freshman Leah Allen on the first pitch of the next at bat. That marked her 10th home run of the season, which ties the Penn record for most home runs in a season.

The Red and Blue went on to dominate in the fifth and sixth innings, staying strong on defense and never giving the Tigers a chance to put another notch on the board.

The second game also brought success to the Quakers, but by a smaller margin. Penn defeated Princeton, 4-3. Princeton was once again first on the board in the first inning, but the Quakers were able to match it when sophomore Lauren Li hit a single to right field which allowed freshman Alexis Sargent to come home in the third.

This time, however, the Tigers successfully put more points on the board in the fourth and fifth innings. However, the Quakers were able to hold them off and keep their one- point lead to win the game with a scoreless sixth inning.

On Sunday, the Quakers took to the diamond again following the Saturday sweep. The odds were not as much in their favor on Easter Sunday.

Junior Alexis Borden took to the mound once again and, in typical fashion, mowed down the competition. On her arm, Penn took the contest, 6-2.

While not at her best, Borden still controlled the game, giving up seven hits in as many innings pitched and allowing just two runs to score on the day.

In the first game, junior Sydney Turchin led the way, driving in two teammates with two hits. Third baseman Sydney Kranzmann knocked three hits on the afternoon as well, scoring two runs.

The tail end of the double header did not go as smoothly for Penn. Giving up 11 hits to Princeton, the Quakers fell, 9-6.

But despite the loss, the Quakers still head into their final Ivy weekend with a 2.5-game lead over Columbia, who they will face next weekend.

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