Penn baseball rode the momentum of a 14-inning win to take two of the last three games of the weekend’s pair of doubleheaders at Norfolk State.
“Anytime you take three out of four on the road, it’s a good weekend,” coach John Cole said. “[But] you try to get that last one to make it a great weekend.”
Junior Derek Vigoa broke a 2-2 deadlock in the top of the 14th on an RBI single to give the Quakers (6-8) the win in the early game Saturday.
Cole did not think opening the weekend with a marathon game had any bearing on the Quakers’ play through the remaining games, but he was proud of the team’s display of toughness in grinding out the win.
“It was a test of wills for us, and we came out on top,” he said.
It was a big weekend for Vigoa, who broke out of a 1-for-19 slump with seven hits over the four-game stretch.
Cole also singled out the “unselfish” play of senior Adrian Lorenzo, noting how the right fielder was able to move runners over — doing “a lot of the little things to help us win.”
The Red and Blue rode junior Vince Voiro for seven shutout innings to take the late Saturday game, 7-0, and split the Sunday games, winning 14-5 and losing 2-1.
Freshman Matt Gotschall had his first rough outing of the season in Penn’s 14-5 win after a pair of outstanding starts to open the year. He lasted only 3.2 innings, giving up four runs. But he received more than enough run support, including two home runs from senior Jeremy Maas.
And after struggling mightily last week against Temple, the Penn bullpen bounced back to record 11.2 innings, allowing just three runs.
The Quakers take the field next on Wednesday for their home opener against Villanova.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.