Softball | March 23, 2016

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
PHILADELPHIA- The La Salle softball team split a double header at Penn on Wednesday afternoon, winning the second game, 5-3, after falling in the first, 2-5. Junior Michelle Hagarty and freshman Emma Schweigert contributed a pair of homeruns in game two of the double header to lead the Explorers in the victory.
 
GAME 1
Penn jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first and never looked back as they added on a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 5-0 over the Explorers.
 
La Salle (6-11) cut into the lead in the fifth when Martin doubled to right center to score sophomore Angelina Refice who pinch ran after Gaines led off the inning with a double of her own to left center. Martin advanced to third on a sac bunt from senior Kendra Heyer, but La Salle were unable to plate her to further cut into the lead.
 
The Explorers added another run in the bottom of the sixth Gaines hit a sac fly to left field to score junior Christina Bascara who had led off the inning with a double of her own. The Explorers had the bases loaded in the sixth as Sophomore Valerie Pineiro and freshman Emma Schweigert both followed up Bascara double with walks. La Salle would leave both Schweigert and Bascara stranded.
 
Junior Mackenzie Obert also recorded a single on the day. The Explorers also drew five walks on the afternoon.
 
Junior Val Buehler (0-1) was tagged with the loss after going 3.1 innings to start the game. Freshman Marlo Roadcap came on in relief and threw 2.2 innings without allowing a hit and only issuing one walk. Roadcap also recorded five strikeouts.

GAME 2
The Quakers scored early in the second half of the double header, notching a run in the bottom of the first frame to get out to an early 1-0 lead.

Freshman Emma Schweigert would counter Penn's attack with her first collegiate homerun, a one-out solo shot in the top of the second, to even the score.  

The score remained locked until the fifth frame when senior Genevieve Gaynor lead off the inning with a walk. After Refice grounded into a fielder's choice, junior Michelle Hagarty cleared the bases with a two-run shot over the fence in left center to give the Explorers a two-run lead.

Penn cut the lead to one in the bottom of the sixth following a RBI triple from Kate Petroski, but the Explorers managed to stave off the Quakers and add a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh off RBIs from Kendra Heyer and Christina Bascara to secure the victory.

Senior Mary Cate Scott (5-1) came on in relief to earn the win, pitching 3.2 innings and striking out four.  

La Salle opens up conference play with a trip to George Washington this weekend. Things get underway with a 3 p.m. game on Friday before closing out the series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.