Softball finally doesn't split two

The fourth time's the charm. At least that's the case with Penn's softball team's success with doubleheaders. After splitting three consecutive doubleheaders, the Quakers managed to sweep both games against Villanova, 2-1 and 6-4, at friendly Warren Field thanks to a brilliant display of consistent pitching, clutch hitting and solid defense. "Everybody was hitting," Penn freshman Laurie Nestler said. "We showed what we are capable of. The entire order, from the first batter to the last, came through." Penn (7-10) jumped to an early start in the second inning of game one when Nestler doubled and scored on a two-base error. In the top of the fourth, the Wildcats tied the game when Villanova's Kim Bullock doubled to left and scored on a throwing error by freshman pitcher Vicki Moore. Undaunted by her miscue, Moore yielded no earned runs and only five hits to Villanova (11-6). Meanwhile, the Quakers were silent until the bottom of the sixth when senior catcher Stacey Thompson started things off with a single to right. Moore, helping her own cause, sacrificed Thompson to second. Making a wide turn around second base, Thompson drew the throw from the Villanova first baseman. The errant toss rolled into left field and Thompson crossed the plate. Penn 2, Villanova 1. "We got hits when we needed hits," Penn coach Linda Carothers said. "Laurie Nestler came through, Thompson got on base." When all was said and done, Nestler finished game one with a solid 3-for-3 performance, including a double and a triple. With game time approaching for the second half of the day's competition, the Wildcats had still not heard the last of Nestler. With Villanova leading 1-0, Nestler again demonstrated her offensive prowess. After freshman second baseman Samantha Smithson drilled a double to left, Moore drew a walk. Stamos's single to center loaded the bases. With three ducks on the pond, Nestler cleared the bases with a booming double. After a pitching change by Villanova, freshman pitcher Melanie Bolt sent Nestler home with a single. Sophomore outfielder Abby Shore reached base on an error and junior co-captain Dawn Kulp knocked Bolt in with a base hit. After four innings, Penn led 5-1. Villanova tried to close the gap immediately in the top of the fifth. After Bolt gave up a walk, she was replaced with senior Lanie Moore. Moore, however, proved to be ineffective as she gave up a triple to Villanova sophomore Kim Bullock, which scored two runs. Wildcat sophomore Andrea Ciconte then drove in Bullock. Carothers called to the bullpen for Vicki Moore, game one's pitching sensation. After another single by the Wildcats, Moore shut down Villanova. But the damage was done. The Wildcats closed the gap and brought the game to within one run. Undaunted by the temporary comeback, the Quakers extended their lead to two in the bottom of the fifth. Penn held onto this two-run margin for the final two innings to complete the twinbill sweep. "One of the things that happened was that all of the hard work came through for us," Carothers said. "I think Villanova is a good club. It has to give us some inner confidence that these things are happening because we're working hard for our accomplishments." After a successful day, the Quakers will no doubt be preparing for the next game with a positive outlook. "If we play like we did today, we have a good chance to win the Ivies," Nestler said. Carothers refuses to let the team slack off. "Our practices are going to be focused on doing what we've been doing, but getting a little better," Carothers said. "There's an old philosophy about getting down and dirty, and we've got to do that." After finally turning around their habit of splitting doubleheaders, the Quakers hope their luck will continue. And if Penn plays like it did yesterday, it just might.