Softball Drops Two to B.C.

Harvard softball sailed into yesterday's matchup against Boston College winners of seven out of eight and in contention for an NCAA tournament bid.

The Eagles (29-24) knocked the wind out of the Crimson's sails yesterday, sweeping Harvard (22-21, 11-3 Ivy) 9-1 (five innings) and 8-0.

"This was a shock," Harvard Coach Jenny Allard said. "I thought we'd come out here and be more competitive."

Competition was tough to find today, as the BC pitchers controlled the contests, walking none and striking out 15 on the day.

B.C. 8, Harvard 0

The Eagles plated a run in almost every inning to send the Crimson packing in the late game.

"This is probably the worst that we've played all season, including the pre-season," Allard said. "No one was focused, we were playing like we didn't want to be there."

It's easy to understand why that would be the case, as Harvard allowed two runs in the first inning.

Sophomore pitcher Tiffany Whitton-the Ivy League Player of the Week-and catcher Monica Montijo had trouble handling pitches.

Passed balls and walks conspired to plate two Eagle runs early.

"B.C. just came it out and took it to us," Montijo said. "And apparently we just weren't ready for that. We weren't mentally ready for that to happen."

The Crimson hitters never got on track, as junior Brooke Shull and freshman Tekae Malandris teamed up on the shutout.

Malandris took over in the fifth, and recorded all of her outs on strikeouts, including four in the fifth. Senior Chelsea Thoke also took over pitching duties in the fifth. She inherited a 5-0 deficit and then allowed three earned runs.

The Eagles would add a run in every inning except the third, as Blumfield's hot bat powered the BC offense. She was 4-5 on the day, with 5 RBI and a home run.

Montijo was a bright spot in the Harvard offense, going 2-3 to offset her lapses behind the plate.

B.C. 9, Harvard 1

The early game seemed to end as quickly as it began, as Harvard's mental mistakes and hot BC bats combined for eight runs in the first two innings.

The Eagles rally was sparked by freshman Jacqui Goodchild, who singled to reach base. She broke the single season BC record for hits, and now has 60 on the year.

After a walk and double steal, sophomore third baseman Lisa Fischer

doubled to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead. Sophomore first baseman Qalison Erbig bunted, and a four-base error on the part of the Crimson allowed her to round the bases.

Senior ace Chelsea Thoke tried to come out and shrug off the four-run deficit, but the Crimson gave up four more runs.

The big strike was a three run home run off the bat of sophomore shortstop Cara Blumfield. Her three-run dinger gave BC a 7-0 lead. The Eagles would add another run on a Fischer double.

Harvard leftfielder Lisa Watanabe started the rally for the Crimson's lone run on the day in the third. She doubled and moved to third on a passed ball. Freshman third baseman Breanne Cooley brought her in with a single up the middle.

The run would not lead to any others, as the Eagles plated another in the fifth to end the game on the run rule.

"If we come out like this against Cornell, it won't be pretty," Allard said. "We have to shake this one off and go out and play like we know how this weekend."