Harvard Nearly Perfect in Five-Game Classic

The Harvard softball team (6-3) rode its stout defense and timely hitting to an impressive 4-1 record at the Miken Classic this weekend at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. After opening the Classic with a Friday sweep, the Crimson rebounded from a tough 1-0 loss to Central Michigan (3-7) to defeat Ivy foe Columbia (0-5) and Florida Atlantic (13-12).

“We set some pretty strong goals for this weekend, and I think this tournament has been great,” Harvard coach Jenny Allard said. “We don’t have the fortune to play on our field in March, and I think this tournament has been good, because we have been able to play a variety of teams and styles.”

HARVARD 3, FLORIDA ATLANTIC 2

Harvard provided another extra-inning thriller in defeating host Florida Atlantic yesterday afternoon. Freshman Rachel Brown pitched all nine innings and struck out eight in her effort against the Owls.

After Florida Atlantic scored off a triple in the opening inning, the Crimson responded with a run in the second. The game remained tied through seven innings, and each team scored a run in the eighth. In the bottom of the ninth, junior Jessica Pledger nailed a two-out RBI single down the left-field line for the win.

HARVARD 5, COLUMBIA 0

Freshman Marika Zumbro allowed three hits in five innings to gain her first career win against conference opponent Columbia Saturday afternoon. Zumbro struck out three Lions and used Harvard’s four-run second inning to garner the victory.

Junior Margaux Black closed the game by allowing no hits and striking out two Lions in two innings of brilliant work.

The Crimson used a balanced, methodical attack to put away Columbia. Nine different Harvard players had a hit, and Zumbro helped her own cause with an RBI double in the second and two runs scored in the game.

“We’ve faced some tough teams this weekend, and we’ve seen that we can hang with these teams,” co-captain Bailey Vertovez said. “Seeing different styles of play from some teams, who have played a bunch more games than we have, helps tremendously.”

CENTRAL MICHIGAN 1, HARVARD 0

Despite a spectacular performance by pitcher Vertovez, the Crimson couldn’t get the bats going in a defensive struggle against the Chippewas on Saturday morning.

“We definitely had a mental lull in this game,” Allard said. “Our effort wasn’t as strong, and we should’ve rallied [around] Bailey’s terrific game.”

The lone run of the game came on a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth, but Vertovez maintained her composure and only allowed one other hit and one walk in the game.

“We faced a good pitcher today, and we’re going to learn from that and make adjustments more quickly than we did today,” Brown said. “We still showed a lot of heart.”

HARVARD 5, TOWSON 3

Seven innings wasn’t enough for the back and forth duel between Harvard and Towson (8-4) on Friday afternoon. After going down 1-0 in the first inning, the Crimson struck back with two runs in the third. After the Tigers regained the lead with a two-run frame of their own, Zumbro stepped in and pitched over three innings of scoreless ball.

Co-captain Hayley Bock tied the game with a solo shot that sent the contest into extra innings at 3-3. Brown picked up her second win of the weekend, allowing only one hit and fanning four batters in two innings of relief. After sophomore Ellen Macadam reached on a fielder’s choice, junior Jessica Pledger provided the margin of victory with a two-run single in the eighth inning.

“Our pitching staff is really coming together,” Vertovez said. “We talked a lot about making pitch-to-pitch adjustments, and our freshman pitchers are really stepping up.”

HARVARD 4, STONY BROOK 1

The Crimson opened the Miken Classic on Friday morning with a convincing victory over 2008 NCAA qualifier Stony Brook (7-3). Brown struck out ten Seawolves and only allowed two hits on her way to a complete-game victory.

After a slow start to the game, Harvard pieced together a 3-0 lead after the fourth inning, led by Pledger who had two RBI. Brown continued to dominate, and the Crimson withstood a Stony Brook rally in the seventh to seal the victory.

“This was a great game—the team really came out wanting to win,” Brown said. “This is good for the pitchers to learn their endurance levels, and good for preparation in mental toughness. This team has great potential.”