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| Cole Zaffiro was hit around by Dartmouth on Friday. | PHOTO: Penn Athletics |
Penn entered Friday in control of its destiny, holding the final Ivy League playoff spot as they prepared for a crucial three-game series against Dartmouth. Unfortunately, the Quakers stumbled in the series opener at Meiklejohn Stadium, suffering a 12-3 loss that sent them tumbling to fifth place in the Ivy League standings, just a half-game behind Yale for the last playoff berth.
Yale, slated for a three-game showdown against Harvard starting Saturday, now stands as Penn's immediate hurdle. Despite the setback, Penn maintains a valuable tie-breaker advantage, having won two of three games against both Yale and Harvard earlier in the season. However, to solidify their playoff position, the Quakers must aim for a decisive sweep in Saturday's doubleheader against Dartmouth, the final games of their regular season.
Cole Zaffiro took the loss on Friday, surrendering seven runs over five frames.
The Big Green pieced together two crooked innings, scoring five runs in the third inning before scoring five more in the sixth.
Nick Spaventa and Davis Baker each homered for Penn, while Marty Coyne tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.
Initially tagged as favorites for the Ivy League crown this season, Penn's fate now hinges on their performance on Saturday. It's a critical juncture, determining if they'll have a chance to vie in the postseason tournament.
