Penn softball swept Yale, securing a .500 record on the season.
On Saturday, Penn softball (15-15, 6-3 Ivy) took on the Yale Bulldogs (10-23, 6-9 Ivy) in a doubleheader at Penn Park. Coming into this game, the Quakers were looking to snap a three-game losing skid and secure their first victory over Yale since 2022.
Game two of the three game series went down to the wire, making it the defining moment for Penn’s victory.
In the second game, the score was tied 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth. After getting on base with a single, freshman shortstop Jaz Johnson advanced to second. Next at the plate was lead-off hitter and sophomore outfielder Gigi Ganje, who singled to third before stealing second. With two runners on base, the stage was set for sophomore catcher Lexy Youngren to take over the ball game. After a strike and two balls, Youngren singled up the middle, bringing Johnson home and giving the Quakers their first victory over Yale in four seasons.
“I was just thinking ‘touch the ball,’ ‘Stay on top of the ball,’” Youngren said. “I smile every time before my [at-bat]. I look a little silly at it, but I smile at the pitcher. Full grin with my teeth, so it calms me down a lot. So [I] get my smile and just say, ‘touch the ball’ and let it do its thing.”
Here is how the Quakers swept the Bulldogs.
Electric hitting
The Quakers put up exactly seven runs in each game of the series, surpassing their average runs per game of approximately 5.5. This can be credited to a Penn lineup that had multiple hitters step up.
The Quakers beat the Bulldogs 7-5 in game one. In a matchup where 8-of-10 players who made a plate appearance recorded a hit, it was Youngren and Johnson that dominated, combining for five of the Quakers’ seven total runs. Youngren had herself a day, contributing three hits and five RBIs, including a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth. Johnson also had one of her best performances all season, with three hits in three at-bats.
“Jaz [Johnson] is a sneaky one. She’s really fast. I think she puts a lot of pressure on people, and is just such a great athlete. So anytime you get Jaz on base, good things can happen.” coach Christie Novatin said.
In game two, it was Youngren and Ganje who came up big. After a 1-for-4 performance in game one, Gangji made a statement in the second matchup, hitting her 12th home run of the season on the first pitch she saw at the bottom of the first. Youngren, batting second, capitalized off the momentum with a home run of her own on the second pitch of her first plate appearance of the game. Ganji ended the game with a walk, three hits, and two home runs while Youngren recorded three hits of her own including a walk-off single to win the series.
The Quakers swept the series in game three behind a standout performance from senior catcher Delaney Smith, who batted in two runs and recorded two doubles in the Sunday victory.
Clutch performances
Though the Quakers put up 21 total runs in the series, games two and three were decided by one run each.
In an extra-inning thriller in game two, Penn went back and forth with the team from New Haven, Conn. After two home runs in the bottom of the first, the Bulldogs punched back with three runs in the next inning. The Red and Blue put up four runs in their next two innings, but every time the Quakers offense got hot, Yale responded.
After a hit-by-pitch from freshman pitcher Hannah Graveline brought in a run for Yale at the top of the seventh, the Bulldogs tied the game, sending it to extra innings.
At the bottom of the eighth, it was a tied game. All eyes were on Youngren as she stepped to the plate with two runners on base. On a 2-1 count, Youngren struck one down the middle to give the Quakers the victory. Penn secured the series against Yale for the first time since 2022.
After game two, Youngren expressed what the performance against a conference rival meant to her.
“It’s so exciting, especially just for the entire team … knowing, especially for the seniors, how much it meant to all of them. Just looking back and seeing everyone go out of the dugout. Best feeling ever knowing that I did everything for them,” Youngren said.
The Quakers went on to pull out a narrow 7-6 victory against Yale in game three to sweep the Bulldogs.
“I think right now is about using this to help us prepare for some postseason play. So showing resilience late and being able to come through on top is huge for this team,” Novatin said.
The Quakers look to continue their winning ways as they head to West Long Branch, N.J. to take on Monmouth this Wednesday.
