Softball Beats B.U. in Final At-Bat

Freshman Sara Williamson became the newest hero for the women's softball team Tuesday, driving in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning against Boston University (28-12, 15-3 America East) for a 5-4 victory, and the Crimson's fifth in a row.

The win ended BU's 18-game winning streak and gave Harvard (19-18, 9-3 Ivy) much-needed momentum going into this weekend's key Ivy contest against Dartmouth.

Entering the final inning Harvard had only managed three runs (one earned) off a stellar Terrier pitching squad and was down 4-3. First up in the bottom of the inning was freshman third baseman Breanne Cooley, who managed to bounce a single over the third base line.

The next batter, freshman center fielder Kim Koral, dropped a ground ball down the third base line. Terrier third baseman Aryn Rangel charged hard but had no chance, and Koral sailed into first with an infield hit.

Sophomore hitting sensation Tiffany Whitton, who went 4-for-4 on the day, stepped up to the plate. She jumped on Robyn Horrick's easy offering and knocked the ball off the left-field wall. Sophomore pinch runner Grace Bloodwell, who had come in for Cooley, scored easily on the play and Koral held up at third on Whitton's game-tying double.

After a fielder's choice held the runners, Williamson came in to complete the Crimson rally, despite being hitless in three previous at-bats. Harvard Coach Jenny Allard chose to keep Williamson in, and she promptly took Horrick deep again into left field. Koral ambled in and touched home for the win.

"Coming from behind and winning in the last inning gave us a big mental push," Allard said. "We feel like we're playing good, consistent softball."

The game had looked early on like it might turn into a slugfest. Harvard struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Cooley and Koral started the inning with consecutive singles off Terrier starter Tiffany Finateri. Whitton then doubled off the left-field wall to score Cooley and the Crimson was up 1-0.

Two outs later, pitcher/designated player Chelsea Thoke popped up to short center field. The Terrier fielders were unable to coordinate their movement, and the ball bounced off a fielder's glove. Two more runs scored on the error.

B.U. came right back in the top of the second. Whitton pitched for the Crimson but had little success. She walked Terrier first baseman Robyn King, and then gave up a single.

Finateri delivered the punishing blow. She took Whitton's 2-0 offering over the right field fence. The score was 3-3 and Whitton's pitching day was over.

"I was trying to get her to work out her earlier problems," Allard said. "That was a bad decision on my part. I should have pulled her out earlier."

Thoke then came in and retired the side.

The pitching and defense on both sides settled down for the next two innings. Thoke struck out four in that stretch, and junior Lisa Watanabe saved an extra-base hit with a diving catch in left field in the fourth inning. On the Terrier side, Finateri continued to work her way out of jams despite giving up several hits.

Thoke made only one bad pitch in her four innings of work, but it nearly cost the Crimson the game. In the top of the fifth, B.U. second baseman Kerry Herr nailed a Thoke pitch 20 feet over the trees behind the left field fence. It was the first and only hit off Thoke, and it put the Terriers up 4-3. Then Thoke walked the next batter on four straight pitches.

She settled down soon, however, and struck out the side to end the threat.

Harvard got a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the inning but tough Terrier defense impeded the effort. After a walk and another Whitton hit, Harvard had runners on second and third with no outs. Horrick relieved Finateri and got junior Sarah Koppel to pop out.

Then Williamson lined the ball right back at the pitcher. Horrick snagged the ball and tossed over to third to double up the Crimson and end the inning.

Freshman pitcher Kara Brotemarkle pitched the final two shutout innings to pick up the win for the Crimson.

Harvard's victory was more impressive because during B.U.'s winning streak it had given up only four runs in 14 games. On Tuesday, the Crimson picked up 12 hits and only struck out four times.

"We're seeing the ball well, and we're focusing on hitting good pitches," Allard said. "Good things are happening."

In addition to Whitton's offense, Koral went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Watanabe hit safely in her two at-bats.

Harvard will travel to Dartmouth on Saturday to conclude its Ivy season. If it is able to sweep the Big Green, it will face Cornell in a playoff for the Ivy championship.