Beaupre and Panu Fuel Dartmouth's Win Over Penn to Secure Sweep

Saturday, March 25

Hanover, N.H.

10:00 AM

Dartmouth College

8-11, 3-0

Penn

2-22, 0-6

Penn

Dartmouth

Photo by: Kyle Relf

Beaupre and Panu Fuel Dartmouth's Win Over Penn to Secure Sweep

3/25/2023 1:28:00 PM | Softball

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Alaana Panu recorded her second walk-off hit of the weekend, while Kelly Beaupre registered two home runs

By: Francis Forte

HANOVER, N.H. — Alaana Panu seized her moment in the bottom of the seventh inning against Penn, as she recorded her second walk-off hit of the weekend. Her two-RBI single, coupled with a pair of home runs from Kelly Beaupre, led Dartmouth to a 5-4 win over the Quakers on Sunday. The Big Green capped off a sweep of Penn in style, opening conference play 3-0.

Beaupre finished the contest with a trio of RBIs and the game-winning run, as she was the final runner to reach home on Panu's walk-off single. Rachel McCarroll picked up her seventh victory of the year in the circle for Dartmouth in a complete-game performance.

Panu closed the game with a trio of hits and leads the Big Green for the season in batting average (.345), hits (20) and runs scored (10).

"These games showed how much fight they have," head coach Jen Williams said following the game. "Our fight gets us where we want to be on the field. I was incredibly proud of them, we just want to show that fight a little earlier in the game."

How it happened:
Penn took an early 1-0 lead on the Big Green in the top of the first, as a sacrifice fly brought in the opening run of the day.

Beaupre battled into a full count with two outs in the bottom of the first. After an extended at-bat, Beaupre won the battle, crushing a solo home run to left field to tie the contest. Alaana Panu reached second base after a single and a throwing error, but she was stranded as the game remained tied.

Dartmouth's defense stood strong in the top of the second, sending Penn's first three batters back in order. McCarroll closed the half inning with a strikeout as the game remained tied. The Big Green were unable to take a lead in the bottom of the frame.

McCarroll picked up where she left off in the top of the third, setting the tone with a pair of strikeouts. Dartmouth forced a flyout to center to close the frame cleanly.

After a pair of groundouts to third, Ashley Frantz fought a full count to earn a single to left field to extend the inning. Beaupre rewarded her efforts with a two-RBI home run to center field to take a 3-1 lead and extend her home run streak to three at-bats, dating back to yesterday.

KELLY. BEAUPRE.

A home run in each of her last three at-bats dating back to the second game of yesterday's doubleheader 🤯https://t.co/Ddcg3V2WMa | @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/hUgfXqBN7R
— DartmouthSoftball (@DartmouthSball) March 25, 2023

"Kelly has been working really hard for a long time on her hitting," Williams said of Beaupre. "This year, she's gotten to a place where she's able to trust herself more at the plate and keep things a lot simpler in her head. That has paid off hugely for her. I'm so proud to see her work pay off."

Panu followed up with a stand-up double but the side was retired after another groundout to third. The Big Green brought a two run lead into the fourth.

Penn cut the Dartmouth lead in half, as the Quakers placed runners on second and third and sacrifice bunt drove in the road squad's second run of the day. The Big Green preserved their lead, retiring the side with a 3-2 advantage.

The Quakers put two runners aboard with two away in the top of the fifth, but a fielder's choice ended the scoring opportunity. Dartmouth placed runners in scoring position in the bottom of the inning, but stranded two as Penn held the Big Green lead to one.

A fielding error brought in the tying run from second for the Quakers in the top of the sixth. The Big Green were unable to respond in the bottom of the inning, as the game reached the seventh inning tied, 3-3.

Penn took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh. A wild pitch brought a runner to third, and a single gave Penn a late one-run lead.

Lauren Ben-Ezra recorded a single in the bottom of the seventh with one away and Ashley Frantz moved her to second wih a sacrifice bunt. Beaupre joined her moments later after earning a walk with two outs. A passed ball moved her to second with Panu up to bat on a 1-0 count.

The sophomore recorded a single, which brought Ben-Ezra home with ease to tie the game. Beaupre evaded the tag at home, sealing the victory for the Big Green and closing out a dramatic sweep of the Quakers.

It's a happy Saturday in Hanover 😁#TheWoods 🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/KvoDZJJGcK
— DartmouthSoftball (@DartmouthSball) March 25, 2023

"When I saw Alaana up to bat, I had confidence that it was game-over," Beaupre said of the final play of the game. "I saw her hit that ball and knew I was heading home. I'm used to having to make a play even when I don't beat the throw. I was just trying to find a way to win."

Panu's second walk-off hit of the weekend elevated Dartmouth to a record of 8-11 with a 3-0 Ivy League mark. Penn fell to 2-22 and 0-6 in conference play. The Big Green capped off their second consecutive sweep of Penn dating back to last year.

Up Next:
The Big Green are back in Ivy League action next weekend in New York City. Dartmouth will take on Columbia in a three-game series starting with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 1 at 12:30 p.m. The series will conclude with a single contest on Sunday, April 2 at 12:30 p.m. A live stream will be available for all three contests on ESPN+ and Stretch Internet internationally.