Coming off a road trip that has led to a six-game skid, Penn will return home in search of a win this afternoon.
The Quakers will host La Salle and multi-talented senior Gina Massaro for a doubleheader at Warren Field, with the first and second games being at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
The Red and Blue (3-12) will need to recover from being shutout at Villanova this past weekend and instead try to recall their last victory, a home win over Saint Joseph’s on March 17.
Though La Salle (7-9) is coming off a two-game losing streak of its own, the team will be bolstered by Massaro, who has led the Explorers all year, both on the mound and at the plate.
The senior heads the Explorers’ roster with a .341 batting average over 14 games, and her 1.42 earned run average (to go with a 3-2 record in seven pitching appearances) puts her at the top of La Salle’s pitching staff.
She has already thrown four complete games this year, in addition to the 25 she has pitched over the last two seasons — one of which was a perfect game.
Massaro has also struck out an opposing batter 29 times in 39.1 innings this season.
Additionally, she plays in various defensive positions on the field, allowing her to bat even when not pitching. And her batting will be equally dangerous for the Quakers.
With 15 runs, the senior leads her team in scoring this season, and she has struck out as a batter only seven times.
In light of such a strong threat, the Quakers will need to stay sharp on both defense and offense.
Penn has proven to be particularly troubled at the plate over this latest stretch, managing more than two runs in only one of its last six games and getting shut out in three of its last four.
The Quakers will look to freshman Brooke Coloma to counteract Massaro’s pitching. Coloma has continued to be an offensive presence for Penn, with a .413 on-base percentage over 14 games.
Likely to pitch for the Red and Blue today are junior Taylor Tieman and sophomore Chelsea Ott. In her first time on the mound this season, Tieman allowed just one hit and five runs in the Quakers’ second game against Villanova. Ott has posted a 2-4 record in seven starts.
After two weeks on the road, the Quakers will try to build on a 1-1 home record in their final game before entering Ivy play this weekend.
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