The Crimson scores 14 runs in two games, led by Gusse's six RBI (Gil Talbot).
LOS ANGELES – Harvard softball (7-11) opened the second day of play at the LMU Muscle Milk Invitational Friday, taking down Bethune-Cookman, 7-4, and Fairleigh Dickinson, 7-3.
Harvard 7, Bethune-Cookman 4
The Crimson defeated Bethune-Cookman (6-22) for a second time in two days, behind seven runs on nine hits. Emily Gusse and Giana Panariello powered Harvard's offensive explosion with three RBI each. Morgan Groom picked up her second win of the season after pitching five scoreless innings.
After a quiet first frame, the Crimson bats got going in the top of the second. Andrea Del Conte registered the first Harvard hit of the day, stealing second soon after. Jillian Leslie was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Emily Gusse dug in to the batter's box and promptly sent the ball over the left field wall for a three-runner home run, giving the Crimson and early 3-0 lead.
The Wildcats fired back in the bottom of the second with four runs of their own. Bethune-Cookman loaded the bases after the first three batters with no outs. A two-run double, sacrifice fly and left filed single put the Wildcats ahead 4-3.
With the bases load and one out in the top of the fourth, Panariello doubled deep into center field, clearing the bases. Hustling around second, Panariello made it all the way home on a throwing error, putting the Crimson up 7-4 with one swing of the bat.
Morgan Groom relieved Taylor Cabe after the second inning and proceeded to shut out the Wildcats. Through five perfect innings, Groom struck out three batters without allowing a single hit or walk, securing Harvard's 7-4 victory.
Harvard 7, Fairleigh Dickson 3
Harvard's offense stayed hot in the second game of the day, finishing with 15 hits on its way to getting revenge on Fairleigh Dickson, 7-3. Nine different players registered a hit, led by Gusse who went 3-for-4 with a game-high three RBI. Groom picked up the win after pitching three innings, forcing six fly outs and two ground outs.
A leadoff single from Maddy Kaplan and a liner up the middle from Katherine Appelbe put runners on the corners for Harvard, early in the top of the first inning. Alexa Altchek then laid down a gutsy bunt, beating out the throw and driving in Kaplan from third to put Harvard up 1-0.
Fairleigh Dickson responded in the bottom of the first after a single down the left field line drove in a runner from second, tying the game at 1-1.
Five-straight Crimson batters reached base safely to start the third inning, eventually scoring two runs to take a 3-1 lead. After two singles, a walk and fielder's choice, Jillian Leslie singled up the right side to drive in Del Conte to put the Crimson ahead, 2-1. With two outs, a full count and the bases still loaded, Melissa Larco was hit by a pitch advancing the runner from third to push the Crimson advantage to 3-1.
A double to left field drove in a run for the Knights, cutting the Crimson lead to 3-2 after three innings.
Harvard's offense continued to roll in the fourth as Altchek picked up her second RBI of the game with a single to right. Gusse followed Altchek by ripping the ball to deep right driving in two runs, building Harvard's advantage to 6-2.
Fairleigh Dickinson picked up another RBI single bringing the score to 6-4 after four.
For the second time, Harvard opened an inning with the first three batters getting on base. A throwing error from center allowed Zoe Galindo to score the Crimson's seventh run of the game.
Cabe entered the game in the bottom of the fifth and shut the door on the Knights, allowing only two hits and striking out four batters, picking up her second save of the season, as Harvard would defeat the Fairleigh Dickson, 7-3.
The Crimson is back in action Saturday, March 21 at 2:30 p.m. against the University of San Diego.
