Softball Falls Game Behind North Division Leader

After sweeping Brown in a doubleheader Saturday, Harvard returned to the field in Providence, R.I., Sunday to complete its four-game series against the Bears. The Crimson, having won the first game, appeared well on its way to a second win before losing a lead late to end up splitting the second doubleheader.

Although the Crimson did not win out this weekend, it still controls its own destiny in the conference. If Harvard goes 3-1 in its four-game series with Dartmouth next weekend, the Crimson will head to the Ivy League Championship Series.

“We have to trust in our preparation,” junior third baseman Kasey Lange said. “We need to know that we can win. We are really excited. It will be a really good series and it’s exciting to know that everything is in our own hands.”

BROWN 5, HARVARD 4

The Crimson took the field at the Erickson Athletic Complex to defend a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh. However, the Crimson slowly erred its way into trouble, loading the bases due to an error, a walk, and a single. The Bears proceeded to score on an error and two consecutive bases-loaded walks to tie the game at 4-4.

Freshman Morgan Groom came in to relieve freshman Jamie Halula and salvage the game, but her first pitch skipped passed the catcher and the Bears scored the game-winning run on the wild pitch, her only pitch of the game.

“We didn’t really have the focus we needed to have to finish the game,” Lange said. “It was ours to take and we just didn’t take it.”

Save for the last inning, the Crimson played well in the second game. Both sophomore Gabrielle Ruiz and Halula pitched well, splitting time during the game. Ruiz gave up one run in three innings of work and Halula gave up no earned runs over her three and 2/3 innings of work. But, she picked up the loss. The defense also played well, surrendering no errors until the final frame.

Stephanie Regan had two hits and batted in a run. Lange also drove in a run, extending her Ivy League leading total to 39 for the season.

“There were a ton of bright spots, and a lot of spectacular plays on defense,” Groom said. “We just couldn’t bring it together in the end.”

HARVARD 6, BROWN 2

The Harvard freshmen had a big day once again as Groom pitched a two-hit complete game and Haley Davis hit a two-run home run to secure the Crimson victory.

Groom surrendered the first runs of the game in the second inning, giving up two runs on two singles.

But she did not give up another hit the rest of the game and allowed the offense to go to work. Groom finished with eight strikeouts.

She dropped her earned run average to 2.41 over weekend, bringing her to fourth in the Ivy League and top among freshmen.

The Harvard offense had Groom’s back. It immediately scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning on three hits, including Davis’s home run. The Crimson also received a little help from the Brown defense, which surrendered two errors in the inning.

“I had a couple decent outings, but I really felt support behind me,” Groom said.

Harvard never lost its lead, pushing across two more runs in the seventh after a leadoff triple by freshman Zoe Galindo to seal the game.

Regan also had two hits in this game and sophomore Katherine Appelbe had two RBI to match Davis’ team-high in the contest.

“Haley is seeing the ball really well,” Kasey Lange said. “The same thing for Stephanie Regan.”

—Staff writer Jacob W. Lynch can be reached at jacoblynch@college.harvard.edu.