Rock Hill, S.C. - The Harvard Softball team (2-1) won two contests on day two of the Winthrop Garnet and Gold Tournament. Harvard took a 5-1 lead in the first inning and never trailed from there on the way to a 6-5 victory against the Fordham Rams, then fought back from a 3-1 deficit in the fifth inning to beat the Winthrop Eagles 6-4.
Harvard vs. Fordham: How it Happened
Trailing 1-0, the Crimson first put runs on the board in the first inning. Harvard's offense started clicking and put up five runs, including a one-run flyout off the bat of senior Lampson. The Rams then tied the ballgame at five before the Crimson came back to reclaim their advantage in the fourth inning. Harvard scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Payne, which brought the Crimson lead to 6-5. The score remained 6-5 for the rest of the game, as Harvard held on for the win.
Game Highlights vs. Fordham
• Junior Anna Reed (1-1) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Harvard (1-1). The right-hander went four shutout innings while giving up one hit, allowing no walks and striking out five.
• Senior Allison Heffley led the way offensively for the Crimson, going 3-for-3 in the ballgame with a double and a walk. First-year Finley Payne provided a standout day at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI. Senior Teagan Shaw also helped out, going 1-for-2 for Harvard with a walk and an RBI.
Heffley picked up three base hits in the game for Harvard.
• Reed struck out five Rams hitters.
• Harvard's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed five runs across, grabbing a 5-1 lead in the bottom half of the inning and holding that lead for the remainder of the game.
• The Crimson out-hit the Rams at an 8-6 clip.
• Harvard pitchers limited Fordham to just 2-for-11 (.182) with runners in scoring position.
• The Crimson drew five walks from Fordham pitching.
• Heffley led the Crimson at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double.
Harvard at Winthrop: How it Happened
After falling to the Eagles on Friday, the Crimson got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Harvard got an RBI single from junior Kendall Jean, scoring Trina Hoang from third base.
The Crimson lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the sixth trailing 3-1. The Harvard offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of Payne and a two-run double from Hoang, which brought the Crimson lead to 6-3. Winthrop put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Harvard still held on for the 6-4 win.
Game Highlights at Winthrop
• Senior Brianna Jewett (1-0) got the win out of the bullpen for Harvard (3-1). The right-hander went one inning, giving up one run on two hits. Senior Lindsay Poulos also pitched well, going two innings, surrendering one run on two hits, walking none and striking out one.
• Offensively, the Crimson were paced by first-year Payne, who went 1-for-2 on the day with a home run and three RBI.
• Senior Trina Hoang furnished a standout performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and two RBI. Shaw also helped out for Harvard, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a double.
• Harvard's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed five runs across.
• The Crimson out-hit the Eagles at a 9-8 clip.
• Harvard pitchers limited Winthrop to just 1-for-9 (.111) with runners in scoring position.
• Harvard pitchers faced 31 Winthrop hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out three.
• The Crimson drew five walks from Winthrop pitching.
• Payne led the Crimson at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI.
Up Next
The Crimson will close out the Garnet and Gold Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 26 with games at 9:30 a.m. against North Carolina Central and 11:30 a.m. against LIU.
