The Penn baseball team finished its non-Ivy League campaign with an 8-6 record, three injured starters, and a rained-out game against Lafayette.
But that's just half the story.
The Quakers are on a six-game winning streak, led by junior Russ Brocato, who was named the Ivy League's first Pitcher of the Week, with three strong starts and a 3.32 earned run average.
After a 23-7 loss to Bowling Green in the Quakers' season opener, Brocato pitched seven shutout innings against the Falcons in their next meeting to earn his first win of the season.
Now, two weeks later, Penn travels to Columbia to start their Ivy League season. The Quakers will play a doubleheader tomorrow, and then return home Sunday for another two-game series with the Lions.
Brocato (2-0) will start on the mound for Penn, hoping to garner a big victory for the team -- and for Penn coach Bob Seddon.
"Russ will pitch well, I'm very confident in him," Seddon said. "He's matured a lot since last season."
Indeed, a win in game one at Columbia will give the Quakers momentum for the remainder of the weekend and the league season. And it would be win No. 600 of Seddon's career.
"Nobody else is playing in the Ivy League this weekend," Seddon said. "We need to get off to a good start.
"We don't want to get into a hole like we did last year against Princeton."
While Penn's pitching has been pretty consistent this season, their offense hasn't always followed suit.
"Our pitching has been carrying us, but the hitting is really coming around," Penn senior Nick Italiano said. "A key to this weekend will be timely hits."
Seddon echoed Italiano's sentiment.
"We have to swing the bat," Seddon said. "And we have to be loose and relaxed."
Thus far, University of Southern California junior transfer Kasey Adler has been reliable in the clutch. He leads the Quakers with a .371 batting average, 13 hits, and 11 runs batted in.
Sophomore Nate Moffie has taken advantage of hitting in the five-spot, right before Adler. Moffie has 13 hits and 13 runs scored this season.
Junior Mike Goldblatt was batting .343 with three home runs before suffering a broken wrist that will sideline him for the year.
"We lost three guys that were team leaders," Italiano said. "Obviously, going into the Ivy League season, we would love to have had them.
"But in some respect, we're beginning to gel as a team, and the younger guys are stepping up."
Freshmen Coba Canales and Josiah Brand didn't waste any time in establishing themselves as legitimate starters.
Brand is hitting .300 and Canales crushed two doubles in four innings against Lafayette.
Penn's relief staff has been dominant this season as well.
Brian Winings notched four saves in just seven appearances, and has not allowed a run this season. Josh Appell is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA in 15 innings of work.
Last year, Penn closed out its Ivy League season against Columbia, winning three of four games, including both games in New York.
"But they were all really competitive games," Seddon said.
Penn's pitching will be crucial this weekend, especially at Columbia, as its centerfield wall is just 340 feet from homeplate -- the Quakers' Murphy Field has a centerfield wall 380 feet from home.
"Columbia will swing the bat," Seddon said. "Last year, they were one of the best hitting teams in the Ivy League.
"If the wind's blowing out, it could be a homerun derby."
