Harvard Sweeps Archrival Bulldogs

Sophomore pitcher Rachel Brown pitched 10.1 innings over two games yesterday to help the Harvard softball team complete a four-game sweep of archrival Yale at Dewitt Family Field in New Haven, Conn.

Brown pitched four and one-third innings of one-hit ball in the first game and the Crimson (22-20, 13-3 Ivy) withheld a late rally to win it, 6-4. Brown followed that effort with a six-inning, two-hit gem in the second game of the doubleheader to help Harvard blank the Bulldogs (9-26, 4-12), 5-0.

The wins extends the Crimson’s lead in the North Division to two games. Harvard’s last four league games of the season will be against second-place Dartmouth, a rematch of last year’s series that determined the North Division. Dartmouth takes on Brown today before facing the Crimson this weekend.

“These were definitely the most important games of the season so far,” Brown said. “It was really important for us to win both to stay ahead of Dartmouth.”

HARVARD 5, YALE 0

Both teams got off to slow starts before senior Jennifer Francis led off the top of the third with a double. Two batters later, junior Ellen Macadam homered to left field to give the Crimson a 2-0 lead.

That lead would have been more than enough for Brown, who allowed just one hit through the first five innings and finished with 11 strikeouts, brining her season total to 206—the second consecutive year she has finished with over 200 strikeouts.

Harvard provided insurance in the sixth inning, beginning with sophomore Whitney Shaw’s one-out single. After freshman Jess Ferri fouled out, senior Jessica Pledger walked and sophomore Jane Alexander hit an RBI single. Francis followed with a two-run double but was called out trying to stretch at third.

Pitcher and co-captain Margaux Black gave up two hits but managed to pitch a scoreless seventh inning to give Harvard its third four-game winning streak of the season.

“This was a very important and exciting game for us,” Black said. “Sweeping Yale puts us in a great spot heading into the final weekend against Dartmouth. We had dominant pitching, great defense, and timely hitting. We played with heart.”

HARVARD 6, YALE 4

The Crimson used a six-run third inning to provide all the offense it needed, while sophomore pitcher Mari Zumbro fended off a late Bulldogs rally to clinch the season series victory for Harvard. The win also pushed the Crimson above .500 for the first time since it began the season 1-0.

The two squads combined for only one hit through the first two innings, but Harvard would take advantage of some control issues by Yale’s Holly Gutterud to knock in six runs in the top of the third frame.

After Macadam led off with a walk, co-captain Melissa Schellberg, a Crimson sports editor, and Shaw hit back-to-back RBI doubles to give Harvard a 2-0 lead. Pledger followed with a walk, and Alexander singled to center to load the bases. Francis stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam to extend the lead to 6-0.

The inning was crucial for the Crimson, as it would only manage one hit over the final four innings.

Yale’s Gutterud pitched a complete game but allowed four of her six hits and two of her four walks in the decisive third inning.

Brown pitched four innings and got the last out of the ninth. She allowed only one hit to earn her 13th win of the season.

The Bulldogs threatened in the final frame when batter Mariclaire Rebman led off with a strikeout but was able to reach first on a wild pitch by Zumbro. After a single and a flyout that put runners on second and third, another single and a groundout brought in two runs for Yale. Two more wild pitches and a throwing error brought in two more Bulldog runs, forcing Brown to come back in to end the Bulldogs’ threat and preserve the win for the Harvard.

“We’re playing our best softball, and it couldn’t come at a better time,” Brown said. “Hopefully, we’ll continue it into next weekend and take the North Divison.”

—Staff writer Colin Whelehan can be reached at whelehan@fas.harvard.edu.