Bears Shut Down Batswomen

It's almost May but a quick glance at the Harvard softball bench yesterday afternoon revealed players bundled in capes and blankets.

The Crimson (16-13 overall, 0-6 Ivy), victims of four rainouts last weekend, finally encountered a dry field, but dropped both games of the doubleheader to Brown, 3-0 and 1-0.

With its two victories, Brown padded its record to 31-10 (6-2 ivy) and moved into second place in the Ivy League just behind Princeton.

The Bears have shown no signs of hibernation in this uncommonly cold spring, plowing through most of its competition regardless of weather conditions.

"Most of our games have been played drizzle," Brown pitcher Juliana Blaser said. "the weather in Providence is a lot like Gotham City's."

Harvard, on the other hand, has struggled in both rain and shine recently, facing strong pitching against Boston University, Providence and yesterday, Brown.

Although cold weather can make an Oil Can Boyd look like a Cy Young, Brown pitchers junior Christy Trexler and Blaser deserve full credit for their double shutout of Harvard.

"Our problems are a combination of poor hitting and not capitalizing on our chances," senior Liz Resnick said, "but it's tough to all of a sudden face good pitching this late in the season."

In the first game, Harvard batters hit the ball into fair territory only 10 times. Trexler, who threw hard and with good movement, struck out 14 players and did not allow a Crimson player to advance past first base.

Junior Kate Fitta led the sixth inning with a slap to right, but Brown right fielder, Sara Weaver caught Fitta at second on sophomore Nicole Desharnais' subsequent single, killing a potential rally.

Although Brown scored three runs off freshman pitcher Jen Kimble, it relied on opportunistic base-running and good execution rather than extra-base hits.

The top of Brown's order struck in the first and third innings in perfect fashion. Weaver drew a walk each time and advanced to second on a passed ball in the first and a wild pitch in the third.

Krissie Fairbanks placed two perfect sacrifice bunts and Shannon Blummer knocked Weaver home with RBI singles.

Later in the fifth inning, Blummer continued her mastery of Kimble with a double. She went on to score on Stacey Johansen's single to cement Brown's 3-0 victory .

Game Two

The second game was more of a duel between junior pitcher Chris Carr and Blaser, but an early first inning run by the Bears proved to be the difference.

Again, Brown coach Phil Pincicne had his "bread and butter" batters to thank. Fairbanks singled to freshman Jana Meader in center, while Blumer moved her to second and Johansen followed with another stroke to Meader for a 1-0 Brown edge.

Carr, with nine strikeouts, and some adventurous Crimson defense Kept Brown of the scoreboard for the rest of the game.

Harvard challenged for runs more seriously in the second game, getting four singles, but Brown's fielders and Blaser held ground when necessary.

"[Catcher] Shelby Marshall called a great game on the corners and the defense made the big plays," said Blaser. "Some days thing work out and sometimes they hit with runners on base."

Despite its offensive output, Harvard was not too discouraged after dropping to 0-6 in the Ivy League.

"Teams haven't been hitting us that hard and we're excited to finally play good softball," Resnick said. "But, the Ivy League teams have been the most competitive we've faced and we're not quite there yet."

Harvard will have the chance to polish its skills against Southern Maine on Thursday at 4 p.m. In addition to a more prolific attack, the Crimson is also hoping for tempreatures above 35 degrees.

BROWN, 3-0 at Haskell Haven   R  H  E Brown  101  010  0  --  3  51 Harvard  000  000  0  --  0  20

HR: None. 3B: None. 2B: Brown--Bloumer; Harvard--None. E: Brown--Calder; Harvard--None.

WP: Trexler; LP: Kimble.

BROWN, 1-0 at Haskell Haven   R  H  E Brown  100  000  0  --  1  52 Harvard  000  000  0  --  0  42

HR: None. 3B: None. 2B: Brown--Johansen; Harvard--None. E: Brown--Johansen, Schulz; Harvard--Walker, Sadow.

WP: Blaser; LP: Carr.

HR: None. 3B: None. 2B: Brown--Bloumer; Harvard--None. E: Brown--Calder; Harvard--None.

WP: Trexler; LP: Kimble.

BROWN, 1-0 at Haskell Haven   R  H  E Brown  100  000  0  --  1  52 Harvard  000  000  0  --  0  42

HR: None. 3B: None. 2B: Brown--Johansen; Harvard--None. E: Brown--Johansen, Schulz; Harvard--Walker, Sadow.

WP: Blaser; LP: Carr.

HR: None. 3B: None. 2B: Brown--Johansen; Harvard--None. E: Brown--Johansen, Schulz; Harvard--Walker, Sadow.

WP: Blaser; LP: Carr.