PRINCETON, N.J. – Harvard softball senior Morgan Melito has been named the Ivy League Player of the Week, the conference revealed Monday afternoon. The honor is the first of the infielder's career and the program's first since April 16, 2018.
 
Playing for the first time since March 1, 2020, Melito began her final campaign at Harvard with a bang at the Hatter Classic in DeLand, Florida. In the season opener vs. Rhode Island, she led the Harvard offense by going 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs, a career-high four RBI and a stolen base. The California native was responsible for the Crimson's first four runs, belting a three-run home run in the second inning and following it up with an RBI sacrifice fly in the third. In the seventh inning, she was one of three players to cross the plate after Teagan Shaw hit a three-run bomb, breaking a 5-5 tie in what ended in an 11-5 victory. Immediately after the URI contest, Melito and the Crimson faced the tournament hosts, Stetson, with the senior contributing a sacrifice fly, which scored Harvard's fifth run of a 9-1, five-inning win.
 
Day 2 of the Hatter Classic uncovered more offensive firepower from Melito as she roped an RBI double against Marist in Harvard's first game before she unleashed a career-high-tying three hits vs. Stetson en route to a 3-for-4 effort at the dish. In the outing vs. the Hatters, one of her three knocks was a solo home run and she later added to the Crimson's run total by stealing home in the fifth inning.
 
On the third and final day in The Sunshine State, Harvard faced Marist for a second time with Melito going 1-for-3 with a run and a stolen base. Her performance helped the Crimson earn a 4-1 decision.
 
For the week, Melito started all five games, earning the nod at first base. The senior ultimately led Harvard in batting average (.571), hits (8), doubles (1, tied), home runs (2, tied), RBI (8), total bases (15), sacrifice flies (2) and stolen bases (3), while slugging 1.071, which ranked second on the team, to go with an on-base percentage of .529. In the field, she had 28 put-outs and a 1.000 fielding percentage.
 
Melito and her Crimson teammates (3-2) will return to action on Saturday, March 5, when they face Longwood at the Green and Gold Classic in Birmingham, Alabama. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT.