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| Penn splits a doubleheader on Saturday. | Photo: Penn Athletics |
Building on this success, the Quakers (6-9) extended their winning streak to three consecutive games, riding the momentum from their initial triumph. However, their aspirations were dashed in Saturday's nightcap as the resilient Leopards (3-14) fought back, clinching a hard-fought 6-3 win to close out the afternoon.
Zaffiro (1-2) showcased his prowess on the mound with an outstanding performance in his fourth start of the season. He pitched six shutout innings, allowing just four hits while racking up an impressive nine strikeouts and three walks.
Notably, this marked Zaffiro's highest strikeout count of the 2024 season, falling just one shy of his career high set in 2023 against Yale, where he recorded 10 strikeouts.
During the game, six players tallied two or more hits, including Davis Baker, who went 3-for-5 and recorded his second triple of the year. Freshman Nick Spaventa extended his hitting streak to a team-best six consecutive games after going 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs.
In other baseball action, Owen Petrich made history for Saint Joseph's by hitting for the cycle, marking the first such achievement in 22 years. His exceptional performance propelled the Hawks to a 10-6 victory over Monmouth at Smithson Field, with Petrich contributing five runs batted in. In pitching, Luke Smith's stellar relief effort, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out three in three innings, earned him the win.
Elsewhere, Villanova's attempted comeback fell short as East Tennessee emerged victorious in game two with a final score of 11-5. Despite the Wildcats rallying with back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning from Jack O'Reilly and Michael Whooley, their efforts were unable to overcome East Tennessee's lead. O'Reilly's home run marked his fourth of the year, while it was Whooley's first.
