MIT Blanks Batwomen in Opener, 5-0

After being forced to delay its "spring" season start a week because of arctic weather and bad field conditions, the Harvard softball team yesterday, at long last, began its 1984 campaign.

Maybe the batwomen should have waited a little longer as MIT blanked visiting Harvard, 5-0.

The Crimson, admittedly a bit rusty due to lack of outdoor practice time seemed intimidated at first by the speed and control of Engineer pitcher Cindy Robinson.

Harvard could generate no offense during the first three innings except for third baseman Trisha Brown's single in the first.

MIT, on the other hand, struck very quickly. After leadoff batter Stacy Thompson walked to start things off, second baseman Julie Chen singled, moving Thompson to second. Liz Anderson followed by grounding to third baseman Brown, who made the putout on Thompson and Anderson and Chen advanced.

A free pass to shortstop Lou Tandura loaded the bases, and designated hitter Pat Leach--who was responsible for four of the five Engineer runs--brought in Chen and Anderson with a fiery shot Brown just couldn't handle.

The next two innings were a pitcher's duel, with Crimson hurler Gerri Rubin forcing a one-two-three inning on infield grounders and Robinson continuing to produce goose eggs under Harvard's name on the scoreboard.

Rubin held the Engineers to one hit in the third, while Robinson struck out the side in the Crimson half of the inning.

In the fourth inning, the Crimson batwomen finally started fighting back. After catcher Gia Barresi grounded out to start the frame, Brown, who led the Crimson with two hits, reached first on a Texas League single to right center.

However, all of Harvard's comeback hopes were destroyed when Brown was caught stealing on the third strike to left fielder Ann Wilson.

With two down and two on in the fourth, Rabia struck out Thompson to get out of the inning.

Harvard was unable to reach base in the fifth, and took the field after a one-two-three inning MIT took full advantage of three hits, including a base-clearing triple by center fielder Anderson, as well as two Crimson errors, to erupt for three runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Down 5-0, Harvard attempted a two-out rally in the sixth. Second baseman Nancy Andrea singled, and Barresi reached after hitting a smoking line drive to third that Engineer third baseman Thompson couldn't hold on to.

The Crimson's hopes and those of the two base runners died, however, after Brown flied to short.

Harvard disposed of the MIT half of the inning quickly as shortstop Ellen Sackaroff executed the play of the game, doubling an Engineer runner off first following a line drive. But the Crimson couldn't celebrate with a run of its own, as Joan Cunningham got stranded at third.

"Their pitcher was a little quicker than what the team has been seeing in Briggs," Crimson Coach John Wentzell said, referring to his own role of coach/batting practice pitcher.

The batwomen have a busy schedule this weekend, playing doubleheaders today and tomorrow. The squad faces Boston University today, in preparation for tomorrow's contest with New England softball powerhouse Maine. Engineers 5, Crimson 0 HARVARD   ab  r  h  bl Boyer of  3  0  0  0 Andrea 2b  3  0  1  0 Barresi c  2  0  0  0 Brown 3b  3  0  2  0 Wilson II  3  0  0  0 Cunnnghm 1b  3  0  1  0 Rubin p  3  0  1  0 Sackaroff ss  3  0  0  0 McKinnon rf  1  0  0  0 Rowning ph  1  0  0  0 Total  26  0  5  0 MIT   ab  r  h  bl Thompson 3b  3  0  0  0 Chen 2b  3  2  3  0 Anderson cf  4  2  1  1 Tandura ss  2  0  0  0 Leach dh  3  1  2  3 Marlowaka 1b  3  0  0  0 Raymond rf  3  0  1  1 Bellinger If  3  0  0  0 Felts c  3  0  1  0 Smith rf  0  0  0  0 Williamson If  0  0  0  0 Lind 2b  1  0  0  0 Total  28  5  7  5

Harvard  000  000  0--0 MIT  200  030  x--5

Game-Winning RBI--Leach. E--Harvard 5, MIT 1. LOB--Harvard 5, MIT 7, 38--Anderson, DP--Harvard 1. S--Tandura, Bellinger, Rubin, CS--Brown.

Harvard  000  000  0--0 MIT  200  030  x--5

Game-Winning RBI--Leach. E--Harvard 5, MIT 1. LOB--Harvard 5, MIT 7, 38--Anderson, DP--Harvard 1. S--Tandura, Bellinger, Rubin, CS--Brown.

Game-Winning RBI--Leach. E--Harvard 5, MIT 1. LOB--Harvard 5, MIT 7, 38--Anderson, DP--Harvard 1. S--Tandura, Bellinger, Rubin, CS--Brown.