At 7-7, Softball is only three wins from '96 season total

Penn racks up 45 runs in three wins against Coppin St. and Lafayette. Years of losses turning into painfully agonizing seasons, including last year's dismal 10-27 finish, behind them, the Penn softball team has finally earned respectability and shed a losing record. Two doubleheaders against Coppin State and Lafayette this weekend was all Penn (7-7) needed to pull even. They swept the two games against Coppin State, Saturday at Warren Field and split the two games at Lafayette, yesterday, finishing 3-1 for the weekend. In the first 10 games of the fledgling Penn softball season, the Quakers were only able to score a total of 29 runs. In Saturday's two wins against Coppin State, the team combined for 26 runs, shutting out the Eagles, 19-0, in the first contest, and winning the second game, 17-1. The offensive slugfest finally provided some run support for the pitchers, who had been pitching well all season, despite limited run production. Senior Vicki Moore picked up her first win of the season, despite several dominating outings in previous games. In the first game on Sunday at Lafayette, the Quakers defeated Lafayette, 7-2. In the four-run third inning, three-time All-Ivy senior Laurie Nestler and freshman Sarah Dominic sparked the rally with back-to-back, run-scoring doubles. Nestler did the bulk of the damage, with four RBI for the game. Freshman Joy Silvern picked up her fourth win of the season. "It's really important for us to score runs early," said Nestler. "Some of the younger pitchers have been nervous before the games. We just have to score to settle them down." The second game did not go as well for the visitors. The Quakers lost a close game, 3-2. Penn scored both runs in the top half of the first inning as Nestler knocked in another RBI. They could not, however, hold onto the lead, as the Leopards gradually fought back and eventually took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman Suzanne Arbogast struck out four while picking up the loss. Senior Kara Lecker and sophomore Sheryl Fodera each had three hits in the games at Lafayette. The Quakers' seniors have waited a long time for the success that may await the team this season. A winning attitude has surfaced with the right mix of youth and experience. "There is a whole different attitude going into these games," Nestler said. "We're a whole lot more confident and we have the desire to win." The excitement may be premature, but with a .500 record 14 games in, Penn has almost matched its season total of victories from a year ago. With the Ivy season still to come, the freshmen must rely on their veteran leadership. With Nestler recently moved to first base to provide leadership in the young infield and Kara Lecker talking to the young outfielders, the youth on the team must play like veterans if they want to keep up the excitement.