Harvard Dominates Crusaders

The scene in Worcester was anything but holy, as the Crimson desecrated Holy Cross (9-31, 4-12 Patriot League) yesterday afternoon.

Mirroring last year’s domination, Harvard swept the non-conference double-header with a 5-1 win in Game 1 and a 6-1 final in Game 2. The pair of victories puts the Crimson at just below .500 on the season (20-21, 6-6 Ivy League).

HARVARD 6, HOLY CROSS 1

Pitching was the story in both games, as the Crimson hurlers gave up a total of one earned run in the series.

Sophomore Amanda Watkins threw a near-shutout in the second game, giving up only one run and one hit and delivering nine strikeouts in her complete game effort.

“[Watkins] really dominated them on the mound,” Harvard coach Jenny Allard said. “I knew she was definitely capable. She’s been working all year on consistency, and we played solid defense behind her.”

The Crimson rallied behind Watkins, riding the momentum of the first game’s victory. Kidder assisted in several putouts at second, including two double plays.

The Harvard offense wasted no time, scoring in the first inning off an RBI single by Murray. It climbed to a 4-0 lead after players crossed the plate three more times in the second. After Vertovez was caught stealing, Adams reached on a shortstop error and advanced on a single by freshman Jade Reichling.

Junior Lauren Brown was the true offensive catalyst. She cleared the bases on a triple and scored off an error by the Holy Cross second baseman.

Brown nearly hit for the cycle, recording a single, double, and triple in her four at-bats to make up for her hitless performance in Game 1.

In the third inning, Vertovez drove in senior Erin Halpenny to put up yet another run.

Harvard capped the game with a score in the seventh inning. Junior Sarah Shaughnessy fulfilled her role as pinch-hitter, batting in Kidder to bring the score to 6-1.

“I definitely felt like the last several games we played loose at the plate,” Allard said. “Today, it just came together. We had a great start in the second game.”

HARVARD 5, HOLY CROSS 1

Sophomore Shelly Madick closed the gates early in the first matchup, dishing out six strikeouts and allowing only three hits over the first four innings.

After three quiet innings, the offense picked it up in the top of the fourth, scoring all five of the Crimson’s runs.

“The first three innings, we were popping the ball up a lot and not adjusting,” Allard said. “Then we got it on the ground, and it worked—we strung hits together.”

And like a furious assembly line, Harvard produced hit after hit.

Junior co-captain Julia Kidder started the rally with a double to left field. A sacrifice fly advanced Kidder to third, and senior Rachel Murray drove her home with a hard single to center.

Junior Susie Winkeller replaced Murray as a pinch-runner before freshman Hayley Bock followed Kidder’s lead with another double to left field. Winkeller then scored on freshman Bailey Vertovez’s RBI single.

An error by the Holy Cross shortstop loaded the bases, and a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly drove in the unearned run.

Senior captain Michele McAteer took the reigns in the bottom of the fifth and maintained the Crimson lead to the end.

She surrendered only one run, a result of a bizarre error in the bottom of the sixth. When a Crusader runner attempted to steal second base, the throw from the plate hit the runner and bounded into left field, allowing her to score.

The sweep was Harvard’s third of the season and couldn’t have come at a more pivotal time, as the season winds to a close.

The Crimson will look to recreate the sweep and conclude its Ivy season this Saturday at Dartmouth.

“We’re ready to go out there and play to our talent, stay composed, and finish strong in the conference,” Allard said.