Softball Kicks Off 2016 With Three Wins in Green and Gold Classic

Freshman shortstop Rhianna Rich set the tone for Harvard’s offense in her collegiate debut, and the Crimson (3-1) opened the 2016 season with three wins in four games at the Jacksonville University Green and Gold Classic.

Rich tallied nine hits in 16 at bats while crossing the plate seven times over the weekend. Four of the El Segundo, Calif. native’s hits went for extra bases, as she recorded a double, two triples, and a home run.

Along with Rich, sophomore left fielder Maddy Kaplan had a strong weekend at the plate. Kaplan went 6-for-14 with 3 doubles, six RBI, two walks, and a stolen base.

“I think the whole team was really excited to be together and finally get out and play on the field because we’ve been stuck in the bubble for the past month,” Rich said.

HARVARD 11, JACKSONVILLE 5

After dropping Saturday’s first game to Albany (RECORD), Harvard got back into the win column under the lights against Jacksonville.

The Crimson came alive offensively in its last game of the weekend with 15 hits and 11 runs.

Sophomore Taylor Cabe got her second start in the circle and improved to 2-0.

Freshman Kathleen Duncan closed out her third game out of four on the weekend. Although she did not pick up the save because of Harvard’s six-run lead, she was once again dominant in the circle.

“Katie Duncan and Sarah Smith really did well coming in from the bullpen to finish games,” captain Zoe Galindo said. “Coming in on relief as a pitcher is a really difficult thing to do, so it’s a really good learning experience for them.”

ALBANY 7, HARVARD 4

Holding a comfortable 4-1 lead after four and a half innings of play, the Crimson was looking at a third straight win to open its season.

However, after an Albany rally that saw five Great Danes cross the plate in the fifth inning, Harvard was unable to mount a comeback and ended up with its first loss of 2016.

Albany sophomore Devin Durando went the distance and only surrendered four runs. In the circle for the Crimson, Groom cruised through the first four innings but faltered in the fifth.

Eight of the Great Danes 11 hits were singles, but they capitalized on a big fifth inning to push seven total runs across the plate.

HARVARD 5, ST. BONAVENTURE 3

Facing a two-run deficit following the first inning of play against St. Bonaventure (1-3), Harvard rallied later in the game and came away with a sweep of Friday’s doubleheader.

Rich recorded two hits in four at bats, including a triple and a home run, drove in two runs and scored two herself.

“Rhianna is a super-talented freshman,” Galindo said. “She had a great weekend. A lot of the younger players on the team are going to be really big playmakers this season.”

The Crimson’s starting pitcher, captain Morgan Groom, pitched four innings of two-run ball, and she struck out five.

Duncan scattered four hits over three innings of relief and notched the save, only surrendering one run in the process.

HARVARD 7, PRESBYTARIAN 2

Harvard jumped on Presbyterian (6-4) starter Sydney Seigler in the early going, plating five runs in the game’s first three innings. The Blue Hose were never able to put together an offensive threat, and the Crimson emerged with a comfortable 7-2 win.

Harvard was able to take advantage of some costly Presbyterian defensive lapses, as three errors and four unearned runs put the game out of reach for the Blue Hose.

Cabe got the nod as the opening day starter, and the righthander tossed a strong four and a third innings to earn the win.

Freshman Sarah Smith pitched the rest of the game in relief and shut down the Presbyterian offense.

Kaplan reached base in all four of her plate appearances, and she drove in three of Harvard’s seven runs.

—Staff writer Jack Stockless can be reached at jack.stockless@thecrimson.com