Penn opened Ivy League play with a statement Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader from Dartmouth with an 8–3 win in Game 1 and a 4–1 victory in the nightcap, combining timely hitting, clean defense, and dominant pitching to secure the series.
The Quakers (6–10, 1–0 Ivy) used two different formulas to get there—an explosive late-inning rally in the opener and a controlled, pitching-driven effort in Game 2—but the result was the same: a complete performance across both ends of the doubleheader.
Game 1 required resilience.
Dartmouth jumped out to a 3–0 lead in the second inning, stringing together three RBI singles to put Penn on its heels early. But the Quakers answered immediately, tying the game in the bottom half on an RBI double from Jack Warner and a two-run single by Gavin Collins.
From there, the game tightened. Penn starter Jake Moss settled in after the rocky second, working 7 1/3 innings while allowing three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts. He kept Dartmouth off the board the rest of his outing, giving Penn a chance to grind its way back.
That opportunity came in the eighth.
Leading just 4–3, Penn broke the game open with a four-run inning, capitalizing on Dartmouth’s defensive struggles and lack of command on the mound. Warner added a sacrifice fly, Ryan Taylor drew a bases-loaded walk, and two more runs scored on a fielding error and a hit-by-pitch—both unearned—as the Quakers extended the lead to 8–3.
Warner (two hits, two RBIs) and Collins (two RBIs) led the offense, while Connor Darling closed it out with 1 2/3 scoreless innings for his third save.
If the opener was about responding, Game 2 was about control.
Dartmouth took a 1–0 lead in the first inning, but Penn quickly evened the score in the second when Ernie Echevarria delivered an RBI double. The Quakers then moved ahead in the third on an RBI single from Gavin Degnan and added another run on a Dartmouth error following a bases-loaded walk.
From there, Penn’s pitching took over.
Right-hander Marty Coyne delivered six strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out four. He induced steady contact and limited Dartmouth’s chances, handing the ball to Josh Katz and Nick Newburn, who combined for three scoreless innings to close out the win. Newburn earned his first save of the season.
Penn added insurance in the seventh when Jarrett Pokrovsky launched a solo home run to right field, his first of the year, capping a 2-for-3 performance with two runs scored.
Across both games, Penn outscored Dartmouth 12–4, outhit the Big Green 19–11, and did not commit an error defensively. Dartmouth, meanwhile, committed six errors on the day—several of which directly contributed to Penn rallies, particularly in the decisive eighth inning of Game 1.
In Other Action
Villanova responded with authority Saturday, riding a strong start from Jack Kelley and a series of timely offensive bursts to defeat UNC Asheville, 10–4, at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth Meeting and even the weekend series.
After a quiet start from both lineups, the Wildcats seized control in the third inning. JoJo Montgomery’s RBI double opened the scoring, and Michael Whooley followed with a two-run single to create early separation. John Freitag’s sacrifice fly capped a four-run frame that set the tone for the afternoon.
From there, Kelley did the rest. The graduate right-hander delivered five composed innings, allowing just one unearned run on two hits while extending his recent stretch of dominance. He kept Asheville off balance and in check long enough for Villanova to build its lead.
Villanova responded with authority Saturday, riding a strong start from Jack Kelley and a series of timely offensive bursts to defeat UNC Asheville, 10–4, at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth Meeting and even the weekend series.
After a quiet start from both lineups, the Wildcats seized control in the third inning. JoJo Montgomery’s RBI double opened the scoring, and Michael Whooley followed with a two-run single to create early separation. John Freitag’s sacrifice fly capped a four-run frame that set the tone for the afternoon.
From there, Kelley did the rest. The graduate right-hander delivered five composed innings, allowing just one unearned run on two hits while extending his recent stretch of dominance. He kept Asheville off balance and in check long enough for Villanova to build its lead.
When the Bulldogs mounted a three-run rally in the seventh to cut the deficit to one, Villanova answered immediately. Brayden Leonard and Carter Richey delivered key hits in a three-run response that swung momentum right back.
Austin Lemon’s two-run single in the eighth provided insurance, while JP Podgorski closed the door with 2.1 hitless innings.
Elsewhere, Saint Joseph’s leaned on timely hitting and shutdown relief pitching to edge George Washington, 6–5, on Saturday at Smithson Field.
The Hawks (10–10) struck early with two runs in the first, highlighted by RBI singles from Richard Beggy and Jason Janesko. After George Washington answered with a three-run second, Saint Joseph’s gradually worked its way back into the game.
Janesko sparked the offense, finishing with three hits, including a game-tying home run in the fourth and scoring three times. The Hawks pulled even again in the sixth before falling behind 5–4 in the seventh.
That set the stage for the decisive moment. Alex Venezia delivered a two-run single later in the seventh, giving Saint Joseph’s a 6–5 lead it would not relinquish.
Andrew Gaines closed it out in dominant fashion, tossing three scoreless innings without allowing a hit while striking out four to earn the win.
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