PHILADELPHIA - For the first time in over a calendar year, Ivy League student-athletes returned to athletic competition this weekend as the University of Pennsylvania battled Villanova for a three-game, home-and-home baseball series and hosted the Penn Challenge in track and field. 

While all Ivy League championships have been canceled for the 2021 spring season due to health and safety protocols affecting Ivy League campuses, institutions are permitted to participate in local, non-conference competition as each school works through the league's COVID-19 return to play phases. 

On the diamond, the Quakers fell to Villanova in the Saturday afternoon doubleheader (3-0, 3-2). In game one, Eduardo Malinowski recorded two singles while Danny Heintz went 1.2 innings and struck out three and Brian Zeldin allowed one earned run across nearly four innings of work on the hill. Overall, Penn's pitchers collected 17 strikeouts. In the nightcap, Villanova jumped out to a 3-0 lead before a two-run Quaker comeback in the bottom of the ninth fell just short. In Sunday's single game at Villanova, Penn scored two in the top of the ninth inning to take a 2-1 advantage before the Wildcats responded with two in the bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 win. 

In track and field, Penn piled up 19 victories throughout the Penn Challenge. Between the men's and women's programs, the Quakers were led by Camille Dickson, Isabella Whittaker and Campbell Parker, who each earned two wins apiece.

The remainder of Ivy League institutions continue to work through health and safety protocols on each individual campus, providing varying levels of practice and condititioning opportunities for all enrolled student-athletes.