Offensive Outburst Propels Crimson

During the beginning of its season, the Harvard softball team’s offense failed to ignite, and the team had to rely on its strong pitching to earn victories.

But that all changed yesterday at Soldiers Field.

In its home-opening doubleheader, the Crimson (14-10) scored a whopping 25 runs en route to two easy victories over Rhode Island (1-23), 15-7 and 10-0.

“It’s really exciting to play on our home field for the first time,” junior pitcher Rachel Brown said. “It was a little cold, but it was great. We came out with great energy and started scoring at the beginning of our first game and didn’t stop.”

HARVARD 10, RHODE ISLAND 0

Coming off of a dominant performance in the afternoon’s first contest, Harvard kept up its offensive momentum, beating the Rams, 10-0.

The Crimson took an early 1-0 lead when, in the first inning, an RBI single by junior first baseman Whitney Shaw brought home freshman third baseman Kasey Lange.

Two innings later, Harvard broke the game open. A single and two walks loaded the bases with just one out, and the Crimson capitalized.

After a Rhode Island passed ball brought home sophomore left fielder Stephanie Regan, freshman catcher Alison Scott plated Lange with an RBI single.

Then, Shaw stole home on a double steal, and junior shortstop Mari Zumbro knocked in two more with a single.

Shaw’s two-run homer in the fourth inning and sophomore designated player Jessica Ferri’s RBI single brought Harvard to 10 runs, ending the second game of the day early.

“I think everybody really just picked up on the energy from the people before them,” Brown said. “So once we got the rally started, it just didn’t stop. No one wanted to make that last out, and the offense did a great job of keeping the momentum in our favor.”

The Crimson also managed to keep the Rams scoreless despite the tough pitching conditions.

“It’s almost like pitching in the rain,” said Brown of playing in the cold. “It’s tough to get a grip on the ball and your fingers don’t move as well. But you know both teams were playing in it, so no team has the advantage.”

HARVARD 15, RHODE ISLAND 7

In its first game of the day, Harvard managed to knock in 15 runs against Rhode Island before the game was called at the bottom of the fifth.

The Crimson grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning, as Lange plated senior shortstop Ellen Macadam, and Scott doubled to center to drive home Lange.

The home team built on the first inning, scoring five in the second frame.

Regan drove in sophomore second baseman Kassy Shiotani on a fielder’s choice, and Lange singled to bring home senior center fielder Emily Henderson.

Shaw slammed a two-run double, and Shiotani hit an RBI single to bring in the final run of the inning.

But for Harvard, the runs just kept coming.

In the next inning, Shaw’s second two-run double, Shiotani’s two-RBI single, and back-to-back home runs by sophomore catcher Olivia Piccione and Macadam capped an eight-run inning, giving the Crimson a commanding  15-1 lead.

The Rams seemed to come alive in the next two frames, as the visitors scored six runs while keeping Harvard off the scoreboard.

But it proved to be too little too late for Rhode Island, as the game was called after the fifth.