Softball rebounds twice to claim weekend wins

The Penn softball team started slow and finished fast this weekend. The Quakers (9-14) lost both first games in its doubleheaders against Rider (12-8) and Army (4-10). But Penn proved resilient both times, dusting itself off to win each nightcap. Sophomore Becky Ranta and freshman Erin O'Brien starred for the Quakers at Rider on Saturday and then at home on Sunday. Ranta, the Quakers' ace, improved her record to 5-6 with two wins this weekend. She struck out four and gave up only one run against Rider and whiffed five en route to a 6-3 victory over Army. "[Ranta's] performances off the mound were greatly important to our victories this weekend," O'Brien said. "Becky kept the ball low and battled back when falling behind in the count." O'Brien made her mark for the Quakers at the plate. She collected a hit in all four games, including a two-run homer and a game-winning RBI single. She collected four RBIs on the weekend. The Red and Blue were held to two runs in their first game at Rider but fell short, 5-2. Freshman pitcher Nicki Borgstadt allowed only six hits, but half of them left the ballpark, leading to four of Rider's runs. Penn bounced back in the finale behind strong defensive play and Ranta's dominating effort. Ranta scattered eight hits in Penn's 2-1 win. Penn sophomore shortstop Crista Farrell led off the game with a hit and crossed the plate on designated player Lisa McNeeley's single. O'Brien prevented a run with a putout in right field, and knocked in center fielder Deb Kowalchuk in the fifth to seal the victory for Penn. "Erin O'Brien made a spectacular play that had a huge impact on the game," Ranta said. "It was a team effort through and through and I did my part," O'Brien said. "Everyone stepped up this weekend and put hits together." In the opener against Army, Borgstadt gave up eight hits, seven of which went for extra bases -- including a home run by Army third baseman Sarah Thornton. Penn's offense put some runs on the board in the fifth inning, when O'Brien lifted a homer over the fence to bring in Lindsay Wagner. In the sixth, Penn left fielder Clarisa Apostol knocked in Farrell and was then brought home by third baseman Jen Moore. The Red and Blue, however, could not muster any more runs and succumbed to the Cadets, 8-4. Penn shined again in its second game, however, as six different players crossed the plate. Apostol put the first run on the board in the fourth when O'Brien drove her in. With two runners on base, a single by Army's Nicki Robbins brought in the tying run in the top of the fifth. But Robbins stranded a runner on third when she was thrown out by Penn catcher Dani Landolt while trying to steal second. Penn's defense shot itself in the foot in the sixth inning. Kowalchuk's error on a fly ball to center allowed an Army runner to reach second. A fabulous diving stop by Penn second baseman Jamie Pallas saved a run, but that runner crossed the plate when Landolt threw unsuccessfully on another double steal. Ranta, however, was positive about the day's defensive plays. "I think our defense saved me a few times this weekend in really key situations," Ranta said. Fortunately for Penn, the offense came roaring back in the sixth, when they batted around and produced five runs. McNeeley drove in the tying run for Penn, and freshman first baseman Veronica Richardson followed with the go-ahead RBI. A Landolt single brought in two insurance runs, and Pallas squeezed Penn's final run across the plate with a bunt. Ranta allowed one Army base runner to score in the seventh but shut the door with two on and the tying run at the plate. She worked the count full before recording a strikeout for the final out. "[Army and Rider] are both strong hitting teams," Ranta said. "We lost both games to both teams last year by a rather large margin, so splitting with them this year shows that our team has indeed improved." News and Notes Sophomore catcher Heidi Albrecht has left the Penn squad for unspecified reasons. She was leading the team with a .375 batting average and two home runs before her departure.

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