Softball splits Sunday

To the tune of 3-0, the Penn softball team received a loud Sunday morning wakeup call from West Chester. Quick to answer back, the Quakers took back the victory 5-1 in the second game of yesterday's doubleheader. "Our bats weren't on," freshman Laurie Nestler said. "But in the second game we woke up?.We slammed the ball." Originally scheduled for Saturday, the away game was shifted to Penn's Warren Field due to snowfall at West Chester. In the last game of the winter (according to the calendar), the Quakers hoped to gain more confidence and experience after returning from training in Florida. "When I was on base, I knew someone would get me home," junior co-captain Dawn Kulp said. "I had a lot of confidence in the team." Freshman Vicki Moore opened up the pitching in the first game and was relieved late in the game by senior Lanie Moore. Unfortunately for the Quakers, Penn's lackluster hitting performance allowed a weak-hitting West Chester squad to squeak out the victory in the first game of the twinbill. In the second game, things turned around drastically for the Quakers as they nailed in five runs. "I think in the second game we played closer to our capability," Kulp said. "In the second game, we showed that we are capable of better." Nearly the entire starting squad connected at the plate in the second game. "I think it was the repetitions of getting at bat," freshman Laurie Nestler said. "It was the same people hitting and they eventually started making contact?.It was a total show of teamwork. We showed that we could come back strongly." In the fifth inning, Penn came to life slowly but steadily with base hits which eventually landed two runs. Kulp led the Quakers as she crossed home twice in the contest while going 2 for 4 at the plate with two doubles. Although the 20-member team includes 11 freshmen, the inexperience factor has not been a primary cause for concern. Although the Quakers were plagued with several errors, they were led by the freshmen efforts of pitchers Melanie Bolt and Vicki Moore as well as the hitting of Abby Altman and Nestler on the offensive side. With a record of 3-8, Penn is hoping the warmer days of spring will continue to heat up its action at the plate. The Quakers received yesterday's alarm clock loud and clear.