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Sophomore Crista Farrell went 2-for-4 in the Quakers' last game. Penn is looking to put together doubleheader wins this weekend. (Stefan Miltchev/DP File Photo)

After the Penn softball team's last three doubleheaders, it is safe to say that a pattern has developed. "We've had a trend of losing the first game and winning the second," Penn sophomore Lisa McNeely said. The Quakers have done that against their last three opponents -- Rider, Army and Lehigh. But Penn (10-15) will be aiming for more than splits this time around in its first Ivy games of the season. Dartmouth (7-9) and Harvard (9-13) come to town this weekend. The Quakers, however, will certainly have their work cut out for them. Harvard and Dartmouth finished first and second, respectively, in the Ancient Eight last season. The Crimson marched through the Ivies with an 11-1 record last season and return five players who were honored on the 2000 All-Ivy team. Among those players that Penn will have to contend with is 1999 Ivy Player of the Year and recent Ivy Pitcher of the Week Chelsea Thoke. The senior hurler is 6-3 this season and is quickly closing in on the career strikeouts record at Harvard. The Crimson are coming off a sweep of Holy Cross and will face Princeton on Saturday before traveling to Penn. Dartmouth boasts its own star pitcher in sophomore Christine Quattrocchi, who won both Ivy Pitcher and Ivy Rookie of the Year honors last season. Her slow start this season, however, has coincided with Dartmouth's team pitching difficulties. She is 3-5 heading into Ivy competition, and the team ERA is a lofty 4.23. This year, though, Dartmouth is getting the job done at the plate. They have already equalled last season's output of 12 home runs and scored a school-record 16 runs against Niagra. Leading the way has been corner infielder Carrie Hoverman, who leads the Big Green with a .372 batting average and 12 RBIs. Penn coach Carol Kashow believes that her team has a shot to break into the Ivy League upper-echelon, but she still thinks the road runs through the Crimson and the Big Green. "The Ivies are wide open right now and we're playing good ball," Kashow said. "Harvard and Dartmouth finished first and second last year, but our team is exciting. "We've especially been playing well in the late innings, but we need to start taking doubleheaders." As usual, Kashow will send pitchers Becky Ranta and Nicki Borgstadt to the circle to face the Ivy foes. Borgstadt gave a strong showing Wednesday against Lehigh, as she held the Engineers to one run in nine innings. Ranta is currently leading the team with a 5-7 record. Kashow is confident that Penn can get a strong Ivy start behind her two pitchers. "We've been working hard and practicing well," Kashow said. "There's no better time for us to start rewarding ourselves than when we start the Ivies." Kashow was also eager to promote that this weekend is the Penn softball team's first "Homecoming." The Penn band will be out to greet fans and Penn alums this weekend. "We invite everyone with a love of spring sports to come out," Kashow said. "We really get cooking in the fifth inning so it's never too late to come out and watch."

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