Credit: Seton Hall Athletics
Pirates Hold Off Late Rally to Secure 7-4 Win Against UPenn
Published: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
by Thomas Mazurowski
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Seton Hall Pirates softball team (10-9) picked up the win despite a late game surge from the UPenn Quakers (1-13) Wednesday afternoon.
The Pirates offense took advantage of fielding errors to build a 5-1 lead by the third inning. A two-run homerun from Olivia Gilbert bumped them to 7-1 before UPenn’s offense came alive in the sixth inning. UPenn would close the gap to 7-4 before leaving three runners on base at the bottom of the seventh.
Sophomore Katey Brennan had a good showing, leading off with a double and scoring later in the first. She would follow up with another double accompanied by an RBI in the third, before being walked in her remaining two appearances.
That RBI was center-fielder Angelina Benitez, who snagged a pop-fly for an incredible diving catch in the bottom of the fourth. The Pirates’ defense stayed solid throughout, only recording one error despite an offense-heavy game from both sides.
Seton Hall got on the board quickly. Brennan came in for an unearned run following a pop-up from Hannah Alexander that was fumbled in the outfield. UPenn put a few runners on in the bottom of the first but failed to score.
The Pirates secured four more runs in the top of the third, aided by two more fielding errors from the Quakers. UPenn responded with a run of their own, as Abbie Stellrecht scored off of a fly ball from Gigi Ganje.
Kelsey Carr would lead off the fifth for the Pirates with a double. Pinch runner Jessica Muniz replaced her on-base before Gilbert’s homer propelled the Pirates to their biggest lead of the day.
Karissa Dupuis took to the mound for Seton Hall at the bottom of the fifth. The Quakers would finally have an answer for the Pirates offense the next inning. Junior Jade Montgomery was walked before stealing second. A line drive from Madison Bauerle put Montgomery on third, before taking home after a wild pitch. A single from Ella Utschig would drive Bauerle in as well. Dupuis struck out two batters to close the inning for the Pirates.
The Quakers would manage one last run on behalf of Rachel Riley batting in Megan Huang in the bottom of the seventh. The offense continued until the bases were loaded with two outs. Carr took the mound for Dupuis, striking out Ella Utschig to close the game.
The Seton Hall Pirates will return to BIG EAST play on Friday, March 14 for a three-game series against the DePaul Blue Demons (10-11), who are making their first home appearances of the season.
Thomas Mazurowski can be reached at thomas.mazurowski@student.shu.edu.Posted in: sports,