The Penn softball team demonstrated a flair for the dramatic in its doubleheader against Lafayette at Warren Field yesterday.
In their first home appearance of the season, the Quakers (7-12) split the twin billing with the Leopards (5-10), taking the first game, 1-0, while dropping the finale, 3-0.
Both games were decided in the final inning.
Youth was served, as a pair of freshmen starred in the Quakers' win. Kaelin Ainley drove in the winning run with a clutch two-out double, providing classmate Lindsey Permar with all the run support she would need on the mound.
Permar squared off with Lafayette's Megan Averbuch in a classic pitchers duel, as the game entered the seventh inning scoreless.
Penn freshman Stephanie Reichert, batting for sophomore Jen Nichols, started the Quakers' rally by drawing a one-out walk. Nichols then re-entered, and advanced to second base on a fielder's choice by sophomore Meghan Cowen. That set the stage for Ainley.
The Toms River, N.J., native worked the count to 3-1. Surprisingly, with first base open, Averbuch chose not to pitch around Ainley. Ainley promptly ripped the next pitch into right center field for the game-winning hit.
"It felt pretty good," said Ainley, who went 2-4 on her way to driving in the only run of the game. "I was just looking to help my team out."
Ainley's heroics helped Permar improve to 5-3 on the year. The Perkasie, Pa., native scattered six hits across seven scoreless innings while striking out eight.
"Lindsey Permar had a great performance," Penn assistant coach Michelle Boone said. "When she's on, she usually holds down the [opponent's] offense."
Permar demonstrated extreme composure on the mound for a freshman, as she escaped from a couple of late-inning jams. After giving up a leadoff single in the top of the seventh, she was able to induce a line drive double play to kill the rally.
Earlier in the game, the Leopards' Meghan Davis jerked one of Permar's pitches home run distance but slightly foul. Permar responded by striking her out on a high fastball.
"She definitely crushed that ball, but even though it's clich‚, it was just a long strike," Permar said. "You just learn from it and don't do it again."
Senior slugger Erin O'Brien continued to swing a hot bat, pounding out two hits in four at bats. O'Brien and Ainley combined to produce four of the team's six hits.
Unfortunately, the Red and Blue's offensive struggles continued into the second game. Once again, the game entered the seventh inning scoreless, although this time around, it was Lafayette which found the late-game heroics.
Pinch hitter Laura Schrager's bases clearing triple in the top of the seventh was all the Leopards would need in the win.
Lafayette sophomore Lauren Belowich baffled the Quakers' hitters all game, allowing only five baserunners while striking out four.
"She threw a bit slower than normal, so that kind of threw us off a bit," Ainley said of Belowich. "It's a little disappointing. We know we can hit, and when you don't do what you know how to do, it can get pretty frustrating."
"They just need more confidence in the batters box," Boone said. "A lot of our hitters tend to get down on themselves when we don't hit."
Penn senior Nicki Borgstadt, who fell to 1-8 on the year, was once again the hard luck loser for the Quakers. The co-captain gave up only two hits in six-and-a-third innings, but struggled with her control, walking three.
Permar replaced Borgstadt in the seventh inning, inheriting runners on first and second with one out. Unfortunately, Permar was not able to recapture her form from the first game, as she surrendered a single, followed by Schrager's triple.
Although she had pitched a complete game in the opener, Permar was not one to make fatigue an excuse.
"I felt fine quite frankly," Permar said. "My job out there is to not let people hit and I did not do my job. It's as simple as that."
