Softball Wins in Extra Innings, 1-0

With the bases loaded and none out in the bottom of the eighth, freshman catcher Monica Montijo hit an RBI single to drive the Harvard women's softball team past Rhode Island, 1-0, in extra innings.

"It was a huge relief to finally score," junior pitcher Chelsea Thoke said. "But we had been knocking on the door all day and hitting the ball really hard against her. We knew we'd eventually win."

Harvard (17-18, 9-0 Ivy) out hit URI (20-28-1) 10-1, but was unable to push a run across the plate in regulation.

On the other side of the ball, the Crimson pitching staff that allowed just seven runs in Harvard's four-game Ivy league sweep this past weekend was dominant once again against URI.

"The pitching has really fallen into place for us," Thoke said. "The weather's been excellent, and we've been able to work on our pitching without the rain. I've been able to fix one of the persistent problems that's been bothering me, and the entire staff is really strong."

Thoke and sophomore Suzanne Guy combined for the one-hit shutout.

Guy started the game and worked four innings of one-hit ball, recording four strikeouts with three walks before handing the reigns over to Thoke at the start of the fifth.

Thoke, the reigning Ivy Player of the Year, came on to pitch four hitless innings for the win, striking out five while allowing only a pair of walks.

"Everyone has a lot of confidence in the pitching staff," Montijo said. "No matter who it is on the mound, there is no doubt that they are going to keep us in the game. It was just a matter of when we would score yesterday."

URI pitcher Susan Chymbor was not nearly as successful as her Crimson counterparts. Although for the first seven innings, the result was the same--a scoreless tie heading into extra innings.

Chymbor pitched a complete game, surrendering ten hits while striking out six and picking up the loss.

Allowing only a single walk, Chymbor's control prevented Harvard from capitalizing on its opportunities and turning yesterday's game from a nail-bitter into a rout.

Montijo led the Crimson offensively with two hits and the game's only RBI.

Senior first baseman Ghia Godfree was another offensive sparkplug for the Crimson, batting 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.

Freshman left fielder Tiffany Whitton led off the game with a double, hitting 2-for-4 on the afternoon, and senior third baseman Crystal Springer picked up a double in the second while going 2-for-3 for the plate.

Sophomore shortstop Cherry Fu, who scored the winning run, and junior designated hitter Mairead McKendry both went 1-for-4, connecting for crucial hits in the final inning.

Montijo's game-winning RBI in the eighth came immediately after a controversial call that went against the Crimson with sophomore right fielder Sarah Koppel at the plate.

With runners on first and second, Koppel hit a line drive over the wall in left field that appeared to win the game for the Crimson.

The ball was ruled foul, however, on a questionable decision that gave URI another chance.

"The call was a huge letdown for the team," Thoke said. "The ball to us was obviously fair, but Sarah did a great job to settle down and get the important walk. Rhode Island brought the infield in, and Monica was able to come through for us."

Koppel then walked to load the bases for Montijo.

Despite being ruled foul, the almost-homerun by Koppel affected the outcome of the game drastically.

The walk to Koppel was the first surrendered by Chymbor the entire game and put her in the awkward position of pitching to Montijo with the bases loaded and the looming threat of walking in the winning run.

"The real credit goes to Sarah," Montijo said. "It was her homerun that should have won the game for us. She set the tone. Anyone else who was at the plate with the bases loaded would have done the same thing and driven in the run."

Chymbor had gotten herself into trouble earlier in the game on several occasions, but had always managed to find a way out.

The Crimson threatened throughout the game, stranding at least one runner in every inning and leaving 11 runners on base through eight.

Ignited by Whitton's leadoff double, Harvard had an early chance to score in the first.

With a runner on third and only one away, however, the next two Crimson batters grounded out and struck out to end the inning.

The situation was similar in the second. After a single by Montijo and double by Springer, the Crimson had runners at second and third with one out again.

Chymbor was equal to the task, getting the next two Harvard batsmen to strikeout and ground out, respectively, to end the threat.

Harvard's next game is this Thursday, when the Crimson hosts Dartmouth (25-11, 6-2 Ivy) for a doubleheader with the Ivy title on the line.

Dartmouth is the only team left in the standings with a chance to catch the Crimson for the Ivy championship.

"We are all really excited," Thoke said. "They are the ones that have the two losses and the pressure will really be on them Thursday."

Harvard only needs a split to clinch the Ivy title and earn an automatic birth into the NCAA tournament.