From spring training straight into battling city rivals, the Penn softball team will play its first home game against La Salle in what is sure to be an interesting start to its city series season.
While both schools competed in the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla., today's game will be the first meeting between the two teams this season.
The Explorers finished their week down south with a 6-7 record, while the Quakers posted a 4-8 mark.
"Our record doesn't really reflect how well we've played," freshman third baseman Meghan Cowen said. "We are still very confident."
La Salle did not battle any big-conference teams on the roadtrip while the Red and Blue defeated the likes of Butler and Big East contender, Syracuse.
"It would have been very easy to fold when they came back, but we didn't," Penn coach Carol Kashow said. "There we started to show our colors against a very fine program."
Another reason for the Quakers record was the absence of senior shortstop Crista Farrell from the lineup after an injury suffered during the game against the Orangemen. Farrell is the catalyst of Penn's offensive production, with Kashow estimating she has a batting average around .800 with runners in scoring position this season.
Farrell missed two games, both of which were Penn losses. The squad scored a meager seven runs total in her absence, but won the final game of the tourney behind her RBI triple.
Historically, Penn has been very successful against La Salle. In last March's doubleheader, the Red and Blue sent the Explorers packing, beating them by scores of 9-1 and 1-0.
"All my coach told me was that we need these wins," Cowen said. "So that's what I know."
Run production will be the main focus for the Red and Blue, but with offensive contributions coming from all parts of the lineup last week, this does not look to be a large problem.
"There were a couple games [last week] when we came up dry and left runners on base," Kashow said. "We showed ourselves we can produce in the latter part of last week, but we still need to have good at-bats.
"We expect to be able to do that against their pitching."
This confidence comes from a lineup that is loaded with talent, including freshmen Jen Nichols and Cowen, both of whom had impressive collegiate debuts.
The Quakers will also turn to their pitching.
"We will look to our pitchers to do what they do, which is keep the ball down and give our defense a chance to play," Kashow said. "If we play with the ability we have, we should not only do well this Thursday, but look forward to a very good spring."
Penn's coach thinks the team is poised to continue their success beyond a win against than LaSalle
"We've played together as a team even the first time we stepped on the field," Cowen said. "The whole team is talented and we play very well together."
"I've coached Division I teams, so I know a good team when I see one," Kashow said.
"I know this, and I think the team is starting to see it too."
