FAYETTEVILLE, Ar. - The Harvard Crimson started NCAA tournament play with a loss to no. 11 Arkansas at their home stadium in a late Friday night game. The Crimson (29-16-1, 16-5 Ivy) fell by a score of 11-0 and will prepare to face Notre Dame on Saturday, as the Fighting Irish fell to Oregon on Friday. 

Saturday's game will be the fourth contest of the Fayetteville region, set to begin at 5:30 p.m. EST (4:30 p.m. CST). The Crimson will play a Notre Dame team that fell by a score of 5-4 earlier in the day on Friday. This will be Harvard and Notre Dame's first ever meeting on the softball field. Stay tuned to the team's social media and GoCrimson.com for updates on where the game will be streamed. 

The winner of tomorrow's game will advance to game five, which will be played as a doubleheader starting at 8 p.m. EST after the conclusion of game four. The loser of the game will end their time at the NCAA Tournament.

How it Happened

In a game delayed heavily by rain, Harvard did not manage to score in the shutout, going 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position. Teagan Shaw was the first to make it on base in the third after a fielding error from the Razorbacks.

The Crimson then got a hit from Madi Mays with a double in the fourth and last got a runner on third in the same inning, when senior Mackenzie Tyler made it 60 feet away from scoring with one out. The Crimson were unable to keep Arkansas from making it home, as the game ended in five innings. 

Game Notes

• Junior Anna Reed (10-8) got the ball to start for Harvard and took the loss. Riley Flynn pitched 1.2 innings for Harvard as well, getting two strikeouts later in the game. 
• Mays led the way offensively for the Crimson, going 1-for-2 in the ballgame with a double.
• Harvard pitchers faced 29 Arkansas hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out three.
• Mays led the Crimson at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a double.