Sophomore Megan Huang pitches against Drexel on April 17, 2024.
Credit: Hannah ShumskyWhat do you want a manipulative boyfriend to do on Valentine's Day? Split! and Penn softball did just that at the Elon Invitational on Feb. 14.
As softball season begins, the Quakers (1-1) started its doubleheader off strong with a win against Morgan State (2-8) with freshman pitcher Ainsley Pemberton on the mound dominating in complete game performance, with nine strikeouts and a total of 106 pitches in seven innings. Only an hour later, Penn fell short against Elon (5-7) in a 10-1 mercy ruled game. Doubleheaders are typical for Penn softball; however, playing at 11 a.m. and then again at 4 p.m. took a toll on the Quakers.
“With a day like a tournament like that, you're on a totally different schedule. It’s not always what you’re going to be accustomed to, breaks will be longer,” senior infielder Madison Bauerle said. “ We’re playing two completely different teams. So I think during that extended break, we’re not usually accustomed to, and a switch in competition, we just weren’t able to transition back into that warm up and competitive mindset the way that I think we can in other situations.”
Morgan State
To open up Penn’s season, Morgan State began on top with the two-run homer by pitcher and third baseman Victoria Fletcher which gave the Bears an early lead and put early pressure on the Quakers. Despite the lead, the Bears would not score any runs after the first inning.
Starting down two – with two outs –- in the bottom of the first, junior infielder Jade Montgomery sent the ball flying over the wall in right center field for Penn’s first hit of the season, marking the Quakers’ first score of the campaign.
Continuing her hot start, Fletcher earned two strikeouts in both the second and third inning from the mound, putting pressure back on the Quakers. Montgomery came in clutch again for Penn by hitting a sacrifice fly and letting freshman center fielder Gigi Ganje score, tying the game.
In the top of the fourth, the Bears could not keep up with the Quakers as they cracked under pressure. Despite two much needed hits, the Bears could not pull the trigger, as Pemberton’s pitching allowed the Red and Blue defense to do its magic, leaving two runners on base.
Bottom of the fourth, the Quakers gained a 3-2 lead with junior infielder Dani Freer scoring on a sacrifice fly from senior outfielder Abbie Stellrecht.
“We all know that getting on is important, but we firmly believe that you can’t leave your teammates hanging,” Bauerle said. “You have to come through for them, even if that means sacrificing yourself to be able to get them in that position and trusting the next person behind you.”
With one out, and the bases loaded for senior pitcher Rachel Riley — a swing of the bat gained two RBIs making it 5-2 for the Quakers. This was followed by another uneventful inning for the Bears as they left another runner on base.
Even with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, the scoring couldn’t stop for the Red and Blue. Penn freshman catcher Alexis Youngren walked on a full count to keep the inning alive, and scored on an ensuing Ganje double making it 6-2. However, the Quakers were not done, as Ganje advanced to third on a wild pitch, then scored on another wild pitch making it 7-2.
Penn would win the game with a 7-2 score with multiple quick innings from Pemberton dealing on the mound, allowing the defense to work smoothly behind her.
“And I think seeing [Pemberton] do really well, it really lets the defense kind of feed off of that, and it gets more intense,” Bauerle said. “So not only were we really happy for her to just be able to rise up in that moment, but for it all to come together as a team, with both a pitcher and defensive group.”
Elon
The Quakers began the second of the double header down once again. With a quiet first inning from the Quakers, the Phoenix capitalized with a two-run homer by Elon utility player Allee Seering, followed by another run scored on a sacrifice fly giving the Phoenix a 3-0 lead.
Penn could not keep up with a 1-2-3 inning in the top of second. The Phoenix offense did the opposite of the Quakers, and doubled its runs now having a 6-0 lead.
The Quakers were quiet until the top of the fourth with sophomore pitcher Ella Utschig scoring one run on a sacrifice fly from Freer.
The Phoenix kept the runs coming. Elon outfielder Reagan Hartley scored on a triple, and infielder Greta Hessenthaler on a sacrifice fly. Followed by back to back homers, making the score 10-1, the Red and Blue’s chances continued to dwindle. The Quakers had one last chance to come back and did not follow through, leaving two on base at the top of the fifth.
Penn would be routed in a 10-1 mercy ruling, marking an up and down starting weekend for the Red and Blue.
“No team is ever really satisfied losing a game, I think facing challenges that we faced as early as possible is always important for your growth earlier in the season,” Bauerle said. “We found a lot about ourselves being put in a game time situation and I think you know whether the record is going to show it in later preseason or in conference, we’re learning a lot about who we are and what we need to work on by the time those come and I think that’s the point of preseason."
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