Henseler homers in loss, but Penn maintains grip on Ivy League playoff spot

Wyatt Henseler homered again on Sunday for Penn. | PHOTO: Penn Athletics

For the third consecutive season, senior third baseman Wyatt Henseler has continued his record-breaking streak at Penn, launching his 19th home run of the year in a 14-4 loss to Harvard on Sunday. 

 

Despite the defeat, the Quakers (17-21, 9-9 Ivy) secured a series victory with two wins on Saturday, strengthening their hold on the fourth and final Ivy League postseason tournament spot. This success sets the stage for an upcoming home series against Dartmouth this weekend. 

 

The race for postseason contention remains tight, with Yale also sporting a 9-9 Ivy League record. However, Penn holds the tiebreaker due to their two-out-of-three victories against the Bulldogs this season. Meanwhile, Harvard trails by just one game and is set to face Yale in a crucial three-game series in New Haven next weekend. 

 

As has been the case for much of his storied career, Henseler carried the Quakers offense this weekend in Cambridge as he hit .556 (5-for-9) in the three-game series for Penn with three long balls, a double, and four RBIs. The homer was the 51st of his career. 

 

In Other D-I Action

Despite a late rally, Saint Joseph's fell to UMass, 10-9, on a walk-off home run at Earl Lorden Field on Sunday afternoon. 

 

Ryan DeSanto got the start for the Hawks, allowing six runs on five hits in four and a third innings while striking out seven. Robbie O'Connor held the Hawks to one run on six hits while fanning five in five innings for UMass

 

Ryan Weingartner and Owen Petrich notched three hits on the day, with Petrich scoring twice and Weingartner scoring three times and collecting three runs batted in. 

 

Elsewhere, Villanova also fell victim to a walk-off encounter, dropping a 10-8 decision on the road to UConn. Cam Hassert finished with three hits in the loss.