Dartmouth Splits Doubleheader with Penn in Philadelphia

Sunday, April 2

Philadelphia, Pa.

12:30 PM

Dartmouth College

2-20-1, 0

Penn

10-10, 0

Dartmouth

Penn

Dartmouth Splits Doubleheader with Penn in Philadelphia

4/2/2017 5:36:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Dartmouth

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Dartmouth softball team split a pair of games with Penn, winning its first Ivy League game in the opener, 8-5, before falling in the ninth in an 8-7 defeat in the nightcap.

The Big Green are now 2-22-1 overall, 1-3 in conference play while the Quakers are 11-10 overall, 2-2 in Ivy play.

In game one, Dartmouth's Breanna Ethridge got the start for the second time this weekend. The Loganville, Georgia native got into a little trouble to start the game, as Penn took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom first. Leah Allen led off with a bunt single before Jessica England laid down a drag bunt and advanced to second on an error, putting two runners in scoring position. This set up Sarah Cwiertnia who hit a two-RBI single to right field and advanced to second on a throw.

The next batter and the Quakers' starting pitcher, Alexis Sargent doubled to right field before Molly Oretsky lined out to center field, plating Cwiertnia for the sacrifice fly and 3-0 lead.

The Big Green responded in the top of the fourth, cutting Penn's advantage to just one run. Alyssa Jorgensen led off with a single through the left side and stole second. Maddie Damore followed up with single to the same part of the field, advancing Jorgensen to third. Chloe Madill then laid down a bunt which was picked up by the Quakers' third baseman who threw to first, drawing the first baseman off the bag, which allowed Jorgensen to score. A fly out to right field by Morgan Martinelli advanced Damore over to third, setting up Karen Chaw for an RBI single to center field.

Dartmouth carried this momentum into the top of the fifth where the Big Green took their first lead of the day. Lourlin Lara led off with a stand-up triple to right field before Calista Almer reached on a throwing error on a routine play from third to first, scoring Lara. Later in the inning with two outs, Madil hit an RBI single to left to bring home Almer for the 4-3 lead. A single by Morgan Martinelli put two runners on for Chaw, who launched a three-run home run into left field, giving the visitors a commanding 7-3 lead.

Penn would get two of these runs back in its bottom half of the inning. With two runners in scoring position, Cwiertnia singled to right field and collected two RBIs, cutting Dartmouth's lead to 7-5. In the top of the sixth, the Big Green loaded the basses with three consecutive base hits. Dartmouth was able to plate Almer when Damore reached on a fielder's choice for the 8-5 advantage.

Ethridge remained in the game for the Big Green and was able to close out the final two innings to earn her second win and Dartmouth's first conference win of the season.

In Game 2 it was Dartmouth who jumped out to an early lead as the Big Green put four runs across. Almer led off with a double to right-center before the bases were loaded via back-to-back walks. Madill stepped in the box and was hit by a pitch, which scored a run. With nobody out, the next batter was Martinelli who smacked a single into center field which scored Jorgensen. Later in the inning with two outs and the bases juiced, Tiffany Dyson hit a two-RBI single to left field, giving Dartmouth a 4-0 lead.

The Quakers got two of these runs back in their turn at the dish in the first. With runners on second and third, Jurie Joyner walked and Allen scored on a passed ball in the dirt. On the following play, Sargent grounded out to first, but England was able to score, cutting Penn's deficit to two.

The Quaker's offense came alive again in the bottom of the third, giving Penn its first lead in the second game of the twinbill. A pair of lead off singles brought up Joyner, who was hit by a pitch to load the basses. The next batter was Sargent who reached on a throwing error which also plated two runs, tying the score at four runs apiece. Ebow was able to settle in after the Quakers knotted the score and was able to retire the next three batters to avoid any more damage.

In the top of the fourth, the Big Green retook the lead when Almer singled to left-center, which scored Dyson from second. Later in the inning, Damore reached on an error by the shortstop which plated Almer for the 6-4 lead. Penn got one of these runs back in the bottom half of the fourth when England hit an RBI single to center field, bringing the home team within one.

A scoreless fifth and sixth innings gave way to the seventh where the Quakers found themselves down to their final out, Joyner hit a solo home run to center field, tying the contest and sending it to extra innings.

Dartmouth was able to score in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Lara that gave the Big Green a 7-6 lead. In Penn's turn at the dish in the bottom half of the inning, Corey Burrough led off with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. She was pinch ran for by Raven Houck who then tied the game at seven when she scored on a fielder's choice, beating the throw home.

Dartmouth could not plate any runs in the top of the ninth which opened the door for the Quakers. With one out, England singled to center field and stole second. Cwiertnia stepped in to the batter's box and dropped a single into center field, scoring England for the dramatic walk off win.

The Big Green will return to action next weekend for the first time at home in 2017. On Friday, Dartmouth will host Cornell for a pair of games before welcoming Princeton to Hanover for a doubleheader on Saturday. All four games can be seen live in HD on the Ivy League Digital Network with Brett Franklin on the call.