Mighty Batswomen Burn Holy Cross in Slugfest

The Harvard women's softball team did not seem to mind the muggy weather at Soldier's Field yesterday.

The varsity batswomen unleashed 15 runs on 20 hits en route to a brutal 10-1 drubbing of Holy Cross in the first game and a solid 5-2 victory in the second.

Coming off a disappointing weekend, which included two painful losses to Princeton and a split against Pennsylvania, the Crimson's performance yesterday was as sweltering as the early April heat. Harvard (8-9-1 overall, 1-3 Ivy) could not have been more satisfied with its slapping of the Crusaders.

"Everyone was up to play and came to take two," said sophomore pitcher Christine Carr, who went 2-4 at the plate, including a game-tying double in the nightcap. "When you're up and loose and confident, you play well, and that's what happened."

Carr's stellar performance was not limited to offense. As Harvard pounded the hapless Holy Cross hurlers for 10 runs in the first game, Carr rolled along, striking out three and limiting the Crusaders to only four hits.

The Crimson's bats cooled down in the closing contest, however, as a distraught Holy Cross fought to maintain its pride. Though Harvard drew first blood, going up 1-0 in the third, the Crusaders lived up to their name, pounding two runs off junior Julie Fromholz in the top of the sixth.

But Harvard could not be contained.

With the blistering sun going down in the bottom of the sixth, and Harvard's bats just beginning to warm up, the chilling field turned into a killing field for the unfortunate Crusaders. The Crimson belted in four runs to lift Harvard permanently ahead of Holy Cross.

After freshman second baseman Nicole Desharnais grounded out, senior third-baseman Beth Reilly, who turned in a stellar 5-6 performance on the day, doubled to left center. Junior Liz Resnick popped out, but Carr--returning to the lineup to replace Fromholz--led the Crimson charge.

The sophomore belted a double, driving in Reilly. And from there, it all unraveled for the Crusaders.

Senior Beverly Armstrong walked. Freshman shortstop Ann Kennon loaded the bases with a single. Coach Barry Haskell betted on the strength of freshman catcher Christine Vogt. Pinchhitting for Rachel Donaldson, Vogt smashed a base-clearing triple, pushing the Crimson ahead 5-2.