Softball struggles in Ivy League opener

Saturday's weather was perfect for softball. There was sun and a slight breeze, enough of an incentive to attract more spectators than usual to the far reaches of Penn's athletic facilities, otherwise known as Warren Field. However, the weather was not so sunny on the Quakers' side of the fence. Cornell's Julie Westbrock pitched a one-hitter in the first of two against Penn (12-13, 2-2 Ivies). The only hit recorded by the Quakers in their Ivy season opener was in the first inning by Sherryl Fodera. The only other Quaker baserunner during the game was senior outfielder Kara Lecker, who reached first base on a walk. Both were stranded by Penn's offensive futility. The second game followed in the same fashion, although Penn made an attempt at a comeback in the sixth inning. The Quakers scored two runs on Tara Pipes and were then promptly shut down once more by the reappearance of Westbrock. In both games, Penn was burned by a big inning. In the first Cornell game, the third inning left Penn four runs behind. The Big Red scored all their runs on singles and sacrifice bunts or flies. "We weren't getting girls out going from first to second and especially when we have a woman on third, we have to do that," Quakers shortstop Sherryl Fodera said. "That just puts two girls in scoring position." Penn pitcher Suzanne Arbogast after being hit in the third inning, recovered for two more scoreless innings. "Arby" and the Quakers gave up two more runs in the sixth inning to bring the game to its final score, 6-0. "Arby is pitching well," Fodera said. "We didn't make the adjustments we needed to and we let them beat us after seeing a play the first time." The second game, in which Penn started its other freshman hurler Joy Silvern, went similarly. Silvern was relieved by Vicki Moore in the fifth inning after giving up six runs, five of them earned. Moore held Cornell scoreless, but the Quakers were unable to reach base against Westbrock. Sunday's weather was considerably worse than Saturday's, but it was a much better day for Penn softball. The Quakers were able to sweep Columbia's club team 10-2 and 8-0. Both games were called as a result of the so-called mercy rule, which means that if one team is up by more than five runs after five innings, the game is called. Arbogast started her second game of the weekend, giving up no earned runs and keeping her ERA at 1.56, still the team's best to date. The Quakers tied with the Lions in errors, four a piece, but managed to make contact, which had proved so elusive just a day before. In the Quakers' second meeting with Columbia, the result was much the same. Co-captain Moore pitched five innings and upped her record to .500 at 3-3. When the game was called, the Quakers had three women on base and only one out. Penn has shown that it can play well against tough opponents in close games, with Villanova and their tournament in Florida. Now they need to follow up on those early-season glimpses and be aggressive. "Hitting is a big thing," Fodera said. "You can make errors in the field, but your bats can get you out of it." It's time for the Red and Blue bats to get a piece of those bright green balls if they want to make a statement in the Ivies this season.