Softball Squad Finishes Third at Ivies

The Harvard softball team finally came down to earth. Having totally annhilated most of their opponents this season en route to a 7-2 record, the Crimson nine had visions of bringing an Ivy championship back from the league tournament at UPenn this weekend.

But the squad ran into some formidable competition in Philadelphia, and losses to the Quakers and Princeton on the first day of the tournament relegated them to third place in the overall standings.

Harvard's 3-2 record in the five-game tournament actually earned a tie for second with the Tigers, but Princeton claimed the runner-up spot by virtue of its 10-5 victory over the Crimson Saturday afternoon.

The Quakers, who downed the Crimson 7-2, won all five of their contests to take the title.

In the opening round, Penn hurlers held the usually potent Crimson offense to only two hits--singles by freshman Mary Ann Moore and co-captain Betty Ippolito--while Quaker batters reached Crimson ace pitcher Nancy Boutilier for seven runs on seven hits and four walks.

In the ensuing contest with Princeton, a Pat Horne grand slam put the Crimson up 5-4 in the top of the fifth, but in the bottom of the frame. Barb Mahon came on to relieve starter Karen Pelletier and yielded six runs and the ballgame to the Tigers.

Later the same afternoon, Boutilier returned to the mound to defeat defending champion Yale, 5-3. Led by Betty Ippolito--the only Harvard player named to the All-Tournament team--and Elaine Holpuch, the squad overcame a 3-1 Eli lead to nail down its first win of the tournament.

"We've never beaten Yale before, and that victory was the most exciting part of the tournament as far as I was concerned." Coach Kit Morris said Sunday evening.

Green

Playing before nearly 100 spectators yesterday morning, the Crimson nine nipped Brown, 5-4, when Boutilier slammed a two-run homer and notched her second victory of the weekend.

The squad then secured its third-place finish with a 15-4 drubbing of a Dartmouth club that has yet to attain varsity status.