Harvard Splits Weekend, 3-2

Harvard’s softball team saw its second weekend of action in Miami, Fla. at the Blue and Gold Felsburg Memorial Tournament, hosted by Florida International University.

Much like last weekend, it was an up-and-down affair filled with close games for the Crimson, as they finished the tournament with a 3-2 record.

Florida International, the only team Harvard did not face twice, took the tournament title with a 6-5 win over Rhode Island in the final.

After that game, sophomore hurler Amanda Watkins and senior third baseman and catcher Erin Halpenny were both named to the all-tournament team.

Harvard returns to action next Saturday with a game at Villanova, followed by a road date with Iona yesterday.

HARVARD 1, MANHATTAN 0

Sophomore pitcher Shelly Madick went the distance while throwing a three-hitter and senior Pilar Adams drove home the game’s only run in the top of the seventh as the Crimson (4-5) claimed yesterday’s consolation game over the Jaspers (5-4).

Senior Cara Woodard reached on a throwing error by the shortstop to start the seventh inning, advancing to second. After freshman pinch runner Bailey Vertovez moved to third on a passed ball, Adams singled up the middle to provide all the scoring Harvard would need to back up Madick.

An all-Ivy selection last season, Madick struck out seven while walking two in the victory, upping her record to 2-0 on the season, with both wins coming this weekend.

RHODE ISLAND 1, HARVARD 0

The Rams’ (2-6) Tara Hiteman got her only hit of the game in the top of the seventh, driving in the game’s lone run and downing the Crimson in Saturday’s semifinals.

Harvard was able to muster just four hits, with Halpenny leading the way with a 2-for-4 game, and the team struck out six times.

Hiteman’s hit was one of the few tarnishes on an otherwise excellent effort by Watkins, who gave up four hits and two walks to go with one strikeout.

With the loss, Watkins fell to 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in the tournament despite surrendering just one run over the weekend.

MANHATTAN 5, HARVARD 4

The Crimson’s sixth- and seventh-inning rallies fell just short, allowing the Jaspers (5-2) to take Saturday morning’s back-and-forth game.

Harvard led, 2-0, in the bottom of the third, when Manhattan got a rally going against the Crimson’s starting pitcher Vertovez. The Jaspers scored three before senior reliever Michele McAteer was called in to end the inning.

Harvard knotted the score in the top of the fourth when freshman Hayley Bock scored on an error but Manhattan added two more off McAteer in the bottom of the fourth.

The Crimson added a tally in the sixth when freshman Hailey Bock once again crossed the plate on an error. It still trailed, 5-4, going to the seventh.

With runners on second and third with one out, junior Susie Winkeller struck out and senior Rachel Murray grounded out, ending the rally.

Junior Lauren Brown led the way for Harvard with a 3-for-4 game.

McAteer took the loss, dropping to 0-1 on the season.

HARVARD 3, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 0

Junior co-captain Julia Kidder summed it up best.

“Rachel Murray was on fire the whole day,” she said.

The senior capped off a monster Friday by going 1-for-3 with two runs batted in against the Golden Panthers (8-14). Her only hit of the game was a two-RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning that provided all the insurance the Crimson (3-3) needed.

With the score knotted at zero in the bottom of the sixth, Halpenny singled to the left side to knock in sophomore Danielle Kerper and give Harvard the 1-0 lead.

Later in the inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Murray stood in and launched a double to left center, scoring Kidder and Halpenny.

The two runs proved to be the final scoring in the 3-0 victory.

“For Rachel to stand up and hit an unbelievable double really kept our team going, and we just came out in the top of the seventh and shut them down,” Kidder said.

Watkins (2-2) picked up the victory with seven shutout innings, surrendering just two hits and two walks while striking out five.

HARVARD 8, RHODE ISLAND 2

The Crimson wasted no time in establishing their dominance over the Rams. Murray once again led the way, hitting a two-RBI double in the first inning on her way to a 2-for-4, three RBI game.

Bock added an RBI double in the first as well, giving Harvard a 3-0 lead.

Rhode Island (0-6) scored a pair of runs in their half of the fifth, but the Crimson (2-3) immediately responded to put the Rams away for good.

In the bottom of the fifth, Harvard scored a pair of runs with some timely hitting from Murray, who got her third RBI with a single to left, and Bock, who drove home another on a fielder’s choice.

Madick (1-0) earned the win with five innings of work, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out four, while Vertovez garnered her first collegiate save by pitching two scoreless innings of relief.

—Staff writer Brad Hinshelwood can be reached at bhinshel@fas.harvard.edu.