Softball Loses Trio to Brown and Yale

This is not how it was supposed to happen.

The Harvard softball team was supposed to travel to Yale and Brown this weekend to collect at least a couple of victories to start off its Ivy League campaign.

Instead the team continued to struggle, scoring runs while dropping all three of its games this weekend.

Perhaps more than any other game this year, the first contest of the weekend against Yale epitomized Harvard's offensive problems. The Crimson (16-14-1, 0-3-0 Ivy) stranded 14 runners in a 4-1 loss to the host Bulldogs (22-13-0, 1-0-0).

Junior Tasha Cupp pitched six solid innings, allowing eight hits, four runs and two walks, while striking out six.

However, because of three errors by the Crimson defense, only one of Cupp's runs was earned.

Seven different players collected hits for Harvard, as the team outhit the Bulldogs 11-8. Sophomore Tara LaSovage and junior Hillary Read led the way with three and two hits respectively.

Senior co-captain Katina Lee scored Harvard's only run.

Although the Crimson left Yale after its game on Saturday, the team was unable to leave its fielding problems and inability to score behind, as Harvard fell to Brown (8-15-1, 2-0-0), 5-0 in the first game of a double header yesterday.

The Bears' pitcher scattered five hits over seven innings, while shutting out the Crimson.

The Brown hitters got to junior pitcher Heather Brown early and often, as the Bears collected 10 hits and five runs off the Crimson hurler.

After Brown was knocked out of the game in the fourth inning, sophomore Kathleen Brown held the Bears to two hits over the last three innings.

The Crimson again had trouble in the field, as it committed four errors.

Harvard's second game against Brown was undoubtedly its best, but most heart-breaking of the weekend. After taking control early, the Crimson gave up six late runs as the Bears came back to claim the 6-4 victory.

Harvard got off to a quick start when freshman shortstop Deborah Abeles hit a two-run homerun.

Harvard added another run in the top half of the third inning to increase its lead to three.

Behind the strong pitching of Cupp, Harvard clung to its three run lead into the bottom of the sixth, when the Bears finally got to the Crimson starter.

In the midst of a continuous drizzle, Brown rallied for six runs in its half of the sixth.

The Bears thwarted the Crimson's comeback attempt, allowing Harvard only one run in the final inning.

Abeles and senior Melissa Kreuder collected two hits apiece for the Crimson, who again out-hit its opponent 10-7 in a losing effort.

Harvard also put an end to its defensive woes as it didn't commit any errors.

"We had a tough couple of days, but we need to put this weekend behind us," Kreuder said. "We need to get back to playing like we did in California, with more aggressiveness and confidence."

Harvard will have an opportunity to re-exhibit its spring break form tomorrow in a double header at home against Boston University. Harvard  1 Yale  4

Harvard  0 Brown  5

Harvard  4 Brown  6

YALE, 4-1 at Yale Field   R  H  E Yale  102  001  0  --  --  4  8  4 Harvard  001  000  0  --  --  1  11  3

3B: Yale--Fleming. 2B: Yale--Ching, Seriven, Ware, Nakata E: Yale--Ching, Nakata, Hickey; Harvard--LaSovage (3).

WP: Hickey (13-3); LP: Cupp (10-5) BROWN, 5-0 at Providence, R1   R  H  E Brown  110  300  0  --  --  5  12  0 Harvard  000  000  0  --  --  0  5  4

2B: Brown--Advani; Harvard--Frenzese. SB: Stark. E: Brown--None; Harvard--Abeles (3).

WP: King; LP: K. Brown BROWN, 6-4 at Providence, R1   R  H  E Brown  000  006  0  --  --  6  7  1 Harvard  201  000  1  --  --  4  10  0

HR: Brown--None; Harvard--Abeles. 2B: Brown--Kellar, King, Deering (2), Panchuck; Harvard--Teller. E: Taylor.

WP: King LP: Cupp

Harvard  0 Brown  5

Harvard  4 Brown  6

YALE, 4-1 at Yale Field   R  H  E Yale  102  001  0  --  --  4  8  4 Harvard  001  000  0  --  --  1  11  3

3B: Yale--Fleming. 2B: Yale--Ching, Seriven, Ware, Nakata E: Yale--Ching, Nakata, Hickey; Harvard--LaSovage (3).

WP: Hickey (13-3); LP: Cupp (10-5) BROWN, 5-0 at Providence, R1   R  H  E Brown  110  300  0  --  --  5  12  0 Harvard  000  000  0  --  --  0  5  4

2B: Brown--Advani; Harvard--Frenzese. SB: Stark. E: Brown--None; Harvard--Abeles (3).

WP: King; LP: K. Brown BROWN, 6-4 at Providence, R1   R  H  E Brown  000  006  0  --  --  6  7  1 Harvard  201  000  1  --  --  4  10  0

HR: Brown--None; Harvard--Abeles. 2B: Brown--Kellar, King, Deering (2), Panchuck; Harvard--Teller. E: Taylor.

WP: King LP: Cupp

Harvard  4 Brown  6

YALE, 4-1 at Yale Field   R  H  E Yale  102  001  0  --  --  4  8  4 Harvard  001  000  0  --  --  1  11  3

3B: Yale--Fleming. 2B: Yale--Ching, Seriven, Ware, Nakata E: Yale--Ching, Nakata, Hickey; Harvard--LaSovage (3).

WP: Hickey (13-3); LP: Cupp (10-5) BROWN, 5-0 at Providence, R1   R  H  E Brown  110  300  0  --  --  5  12  0 Harvard  000  000  0  --  --  0  5  4

2B: Brown--Advani; Harvard--Frenzese. SB: Stark. E: Brown--None; Harvard--Abeles (3).

WP: King; LP: K. Brown BROWN, 6-4 at Providence, R1   R  H  E Brown  000  006  0  --  --  6  7  1 Harvard  201  000  1  --  --  4  10  0

HR: Brown--None; Harvard--Abeles. 2B: Brown--Kellar, King, Deering (2), Panchuck; Harvard--Teller. E: Taylor.

WP: King LP: Cupp

YALE, 4-1 at Yale Field   R  H  E Yale  102  001  0  --  --  4  8  4 Harvard  001  000  0  --  --  1  11  3

3B: Yale--Fleming. 2B: Yale--Ching, Seriven, Ware, Nakata E: Yale--Ching, Nakata, Hickey; Harvard--LaSovage (3).

WP: Hickey (13-3); LP: Cupp (10-5) BROWN, 5-0 at Providence, R1   R  H  E Brown  110  300  0  --  --  5  12  0 Harvard  000  000  0  --  --  0  5  4

2B: Brown--Advani; Harvard--Frenzese. SB: Stark. E: Brown--None; Harvard--Abeles (3).

WP: King; LP: K. Brown BROWN, 6-4 at Providence, R1   R  H  E Brown  000  006  0  --  --  6  7  1 Harvard  201  000  1  --  --  4  10  0

HR: Brown--None; Harvard--Abeles. 2B: Brown--Kellar, King, Deering (2), Panchuck; Harvard--Teller. E: Taylor.

WP: King LP: Cupp

3B: Yale--Fleming. 2B: Yale--Ching, Seriven, Ware, Nakata E: Yale--Ching, Nakata, Hickey; Harvard--LaSovage (3).

WP: Hickey (13-3); LP: Cupp (10-5) BROWN, 5-0 at Providence, R1   R  H  E Brown  110  300  0  --  --  5  12  0 Harvard  000  000  0  --  --  0  5  4

2B: Brown--Advani; Harvard--Frenzese. SB: Stark. E: Brown--None; Harvard--Abeles (3).

WP: King; LP: K. Brown BROWN, 6-4 at Providence, R1   R  H  E Brown  000  006  0  --  --  6  7  1 Harvard  201  000  1  --  --  4  10  0

HR: Brown--None; Harvard--Abeles. 2B: Brown--Kellar, King, Deering (2), Panchuck; Harvard--Teller. E: Taylor.

WP: King LP: Cupp

2B: Brown--Advani; Harvard--Frenzese. SB: Stark. E: Brown--None; Harvard--Abeles (3).

WP: King; LP: K. Brown BROWN, 6-4 at Providence, R1   R  H  E Brown  000  006  0  --  --  6  7  1 Harvard  201  000  1  --  --  4  10  0

HR: Brown--None; Harvard--Abeles. 2B: Brown--Kellar, King, Deering (2), Panchuck; Harvard--Teller. E: Taylor.

WP: King LP: Cupp

HR: Brown--None; Harvard--Abeles. 2B: Brown--Kellar, King, Deering (2), Panchuck; Harvard--Teller. E: Taylor.

WP: King LP: Cupp