Softball splits with Villanova

It wasn't spring fever the Penn softball team (4-6) experienced yesterday, but the shocking flurry of snowflakes. Despite sub-freezing temperatures, the Quakers were forced to acclimate to the North after playing eight games in Florida. Penn travelled to Villanova to take on its cross-town rival, splitting the doubleheader. Penn won the first game, but was out-hit 8-6 by the Wildcats. The Quakers bounced back to out-hit Villanova in the second game. A year ago, the Red and Blue lost both ends of the doubleheader against Villanova, but Penn coach Linda Carothers was hoping that her top recruits would make an impact and change the results. They did. "I was really happy because we got a great team effort," said Carothers. "Our freshmen really played like veterans, everybody contributed from the bench and all of our substitutions rose to the occasion." The first game was tied at 2-2 and went into extra innings. In the ninth, freshman Sarah Dominic blasted the game-winning home run as the Quakers won 3-2. Dominic stretched her hitting streak to three games and has proven herself to be an offensive threat. Freshman starting pitcher Joy Silvern went 8 2/3 innings and picked up her third win in as many starts. Fellow freshman Suzanne Arbogast picked up the save and lowered her team-leading earned run average to 1.44 in 24 1/3 innings pitched. Arbogast also leads the team in strikeouts with 31. Also in the first game, senior co-captain Vicki Moore had two hits and an RBI. Sophomore Sherryl Fodera also had a hit. Fodera, leading the team with a .394 batting average, is currently working on a five-game hitting streak. The second game did not go as well as the first for the Quakers. Villanova was on top 7-3 when the game was called for darkness in the fifth inning. The game does count as an official loss. "The first game really was a great win for us, a big, big boost," Carothers said. "It would have been nice to walk away with two wins, but it's too bad that just didn't happen." Arbogast, who finished the first game, stayed on the mound to start the second game. She pitched three and 2/3 innings and picked up her third loss of the season. In the loss, Penn freshman outfielder Michelle Zaptin had two hits and an RBI. Senior Kara Lecker also had two base hits. The best thing that can be taken out of yesterday's split with Villanova was the play of the freshmen. With eight on the squad, five saw playing time, as Dominic, Arbogast, Silvern, Zaptin and Kari Dennis making significant contributions. "We have a great combination of leadership and youth on this team," said Carothers. "We're really going to need the freshmen to contribute if we are going to be a successful team."