Penn splits twin bill with Rams

Although the crowds at Penn softball games may not be large, they never leave until the last out. That's because with five of the Quakers' last six games having been decided by one run, every at-bat has been crucial. Sunday's doubleheader at West Chester was no different. In game one, the Golden Rams squeaked by an injury-plagued Penn squad, 4-3. In the bottom half of the twin bill, the Quakers (6-17) topped West Chester, 7-6. Sophomore Melanie Bolt got the pitching call in place of the injured Vicki Moore in the first game. Bolt went the distance, allowing four runs on 10 hits and three walks. But the Quakers' offense never woke up, as Rams pitchers Kelly Finnerty and Danielle Weinberg held the Quakers to just five hits. Junior Kristin Richeimer accounted for both of Penn's runs, scoring one and driving in the other. Richeimer went 2 for 2 with a walk to up her batting average to .256 on the season. West Chester's three and four hitters provided the Rams' punch. Left fielder Jennifer Eck went 2 for 3, scoring twice. Clean-up hitter Kris Shereszynski was a perfect 3 for 3 and drove in a pair of runs. The numerous injuries caused Penn coach Linda Carothers to plug players into unnatural positions. "Everybody's been playing a new position, whether or not they're comfortable there," Penn's Amy Malerba said. But the team looked anything but uncomfortable. Despite the shuffling of positions, the Quakers had a perfect game in the field. Richeimer filled in at catcher for the ailing Rachel Benepe (who was filling in for the injured Sam Smithson). Malerba shifted from second base to Richeimer's spot at third, and Laura Guimond entered the starting lineup at second. In the second game, freshman hurler Jen Strawley got the call. In 2 2/3 innings of work, the Rams (8-11) smacked Strawley for six runs. Carothers then called in senior Dawn Kulp, who shut out the Rams the rest of the way. "Dawn's been pitching really well," Abby Shore said. "I don't think Coach expected her to pitch so much. I don't even think Dawn expected to pitch so much." Unlike the first game, the Quakers were able to put some runs on the board. Down 6-1 after four innings, Penn exploded for one of its trademark rallies. The Quakers roughed up West Chester hurler Heather Packer for six runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a one-run lead, and never looked back. "In the first game, we were hitting right at people," Shore said. "In the second game, we started finding the holes." The six-run explosion was keyed by Shore's three RBIs. Malerba also had a solid game at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs. With each game so close, every play has taken on added meaning. Every Penn mistake is magnified. "It's more a mental thing than a physical thing," Malerba said. "We know we can get the grounder and make the play, but sometimes the communication's not there." Actually, Penn seemed to be more focused against the Rams, perhaps because of all the injuries. Going into the doubleheader, the Quakers were averaging about 3.6 errors per game. In the two games last weekend, Penn committed three errors combined. A two-game split may not have been Penn's goal going into the weekend. But under the circumstances, the Quakers were lucky to escape with the one victory. "[The injuries] have affected us more than anything," Malerba said. "If everyone had been healthy, we might have won the first game. It's all 'should-have-beens'. But it's made a difference."