Harvard Softball Dominates Dartmouth in Series Sweep: A Road Triumph

Harvard Softball Sweeps Dartmouth with Epic Comebacks

In a thrilling weekend, Harvard softball achieved a stunning sweep against Dartmouth at Dartmouth Softball Park. The Crimson improved their conference record to 12-6 as they head into the final stretch of the regular season.

In the first game, with the team trailing 4-1 in the fifth inning, Harvard mounted a classic comeback. A two-run homer by junior Finley Payne in the sixth inning proved pivotal, leading the Crimson to a 7-5 victory.

The second game saw another impressive performance. Junior Lael Ayala and senior Maya Douglas both hit homers, contributing to a powerful five-run seventh inning. Harvard ultimately won 8-4, sealing the series sweep.

First-year infielder Alexa Muller had a standout weekend, finishing with a .667 average, eight hits, and four RBIs. Junior pitcher Ryan Grace was a key player, securing victories in both games.

Game One Highlights:

Harvard took an early lead. In the first inning, Ayala was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, driving in the first run. Dartmouth quickly countered, scoring two runs to take the lead, and then added two more for a 4-1 advantage.

But Harvard responded in the fifth. A well-placed single by Quinn Salazar-Stewart and a sharp hit by Muller helped narrow the gap. In the sixth inning, the Crimson rallied, scoring four runs. Senior Priyanka Kaul ignited the comeback with an RBI triple, followed by Payne’s home run, marking her 100th career hit.

Game Two Highlights:

The second game started with Dartmouth hitting a solo home run, but Ayala quickly turned the tables, hitting a decisive two-run homer in the fourth inning. Harvard continued to battle back, tying the game in the fifth and pulling ahead in the seventh. Muller’s RBI double was critical, followed by Kaul’s two-run double, extending the lead to 6-3. Douglas capped the scoring with her own two-run homer.

In total, Harvard scored 17 runs after the sixth inning over the two games, showcasing their late-game power. They have now won four games in a row against Dartmouth.

Player Milestones:

• Finley Payne reached the remarkable milestone of 100 career hits.
• Ayala’s home run in the finale marked her first of the season.
• Sunshine and Douglas are tied for the team lead in home runs, each with seven.
• Junior Riley Flynn crossed 200 strikeouts in her career, becoming the 11th player in program history to do so.

This performance positions Harvard for a strong finish. They will conclude the regular season against Cornell, with all games available on ESPN+.

For more updates on Harvard Softball, pay attention to their Twitter @HarvardSB and Instagram @harvardsb.

Source link