Split.
Penn's softball players must be hearing that word in their sleep.
Not only did the team split their final day of games at the Rebel Spring Games, losing to South Dakota State 3-2 and beating Fairleigh Dickinson 10-2, it also ended up splitting the six-day event, going 5-5.
Penn's inconsistent offense could also be described as having a split personality.
The team opened the last day of its road trip continuing its three-game slide against the Coyotes (9-7), with the bad side of its offense showing up. After a run by junior Annie Kinsey in the first inning, Penn (5-5) was shut out until the seventh. Fielding errors plagued the Quakers in the third inning and allowed South Dakota State to put up three runs, which was all the Coyotes needed.
The better side of Penn's offense showed up later that day, as the Quakers stopped the bleeding with a romping of Fairleigh Dickinson.
Led by senior Susan McIlvaine, who went 4-4 on the day with two runs and one RBI, the game was never in doubt. In the bottom of the second inning, Penn put up seven runs to go up 7-0. The game ended at 10-2 in the bottom of the sixth by the mercy rule.
One positive note the Quakers could take from the last day's action was the pitching, which was a definite question mark coming into this season. Senior Olivia Mauro pitched three scoreless innings to close out the South Dakota State game, while Penn did not allow a single run in the Fairleigh Dickenson game until the fourth inning.
After spending the week in Florida, the Quakers return to host Delaware (4-7) tomorrow. And the question at Penn is: which side of the offense will show up?
