NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale softball team kicked off Ivy League play with a bang, securing a pair of high-scoring wins over Penn. The Bulldogs edged out a 12-10 victory in game one before dominating game two with a 9-0 shutout.
With the sweep, Yale improved to 11-10 (2-0 Ivy) on the season, while Penn fell to 1-15 (0-2 Ivy).
Game 1: Yale 12, Penn 10
- B1 | Katie Donahey put Yale on the board early, driving a hard-hit ball up the middle to score two runners.
- B2 | With runners on first and second, Lauren Perren laced a shot into center field, bringing in two more runs.
- T3 | The Quakers answered in the third. A single from Rachel Riley and a double from Dani Freer cut Yale's lead to one. A heads-up play by Isabella Fortini behind the plate halted Penn's momentum, as she threw out a runner caught in a rundown at third.
- B3 | Yale responded in the bottom half of the inning. Sophie Woodridge smashed an RBI double to left-center, and later, Ella Gandolfo drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead.
- T4 | Penn got another run back in the fourth with Madison Bauerle's single through the right side.
- B4 | The Bulldogs broke the game open in the bottom of the inning. Woodridge delivered again, this time with a three-run double to left-center, extending Yale's lead to five. SJ Mull followed with a hard-hit infield single to make it a six-run advantage, and Elena Ohe added a sacrifice fly to cap the rally.
- T6 | Penn's bats came alive in the sixth. A one-out single drove in a run before Riley launched a three-run homer to right-center, cutting Yale's lead to 11-8.
- B6 | Yale got an insurance run when Gandolfo scored on a wild pitch, pushing the lead back to four.
- T7 | Penn managed to plate two more runs, but Yale's Grace Westmoreland closed the door to secure the win.
Bulldog Notes
- Emma Taylor picked up her fifth win of the season, striking out six over 5.1 innings.
- Grace Westmoreland earned her second career save in relief.
- Sophie Woodridge had a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs.
- Ella Gandolfo went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs, and one RBI.
Game 2: Yale 9, Penn 0 (5 innings)
- B2 | After a scoreless first, Yale exploded in the second. Isabella Fortini crossed home on a groundout to open the scoring. With runners on second and third, pinch hitter Maddie Latta singled through the left side to drive in two more. A single from Gandolfo moved Latta to third, setting the stage for Perren, who doubled to right-center to bring in two more. Donahey capped off the rally with an RBI single up the middle. (Yale 6, Penn 0)
- B4 | The Bulldogs tacked on more in the fourth. After Gandolfo reached on an error, Perren ripped a triple down the right-field line. Ella Cross followed with an RBI groundout, and Mull closed out the scoring with an RBI single to center. (Yale 9, Penn 0)
Bulldog Notes
Up Next
Yale looks to complete the series sweep against Penn on Sunday, March 16, with first pitch set for 11:30 a.m. at 5K Corral Field.
