CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard University softball beat Princeton University, 2-1, in its first home game in over 1,000 days before dropping a narrow decision, 5-4, in game two in its home-opening doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Soldiers Field.
 
Playing its first home games since May 11, 2019 – a span of 1,050 days – and competing at home for the first time this season after playing its first 19 games away from Cambridge, the Crimson (9-12, 3-2 Ivy) jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the way to the game one win over the Tigers (10-10, 4-1 Ivy) and nearly rallied for the comeback in game two with three runs in the fifth.
 
Between the two games, sophomore Allison Heffley went 3-for-4 with three walks, sophomore Lauren Bobowski finished 3-for-6 with two runs scored, and senior Morgan Melito posted four RBIs, two hits, and a triple. Sophomore Anna Reed earned the win in game one, tossing 5.0 innings and allowing just one run while first-year Katie Arrambide recorded the game's final two outs for the save.
 
In game one, the Crimson executed a double steal to plate its first run as junior Megan Welsh stole home and Bobowski took second. Heffley later came home on a wild pitch to make the lead 2-0 in the bottom of the first. Princeton scored once in the top of the second before the Crimson pitching staff held the Tigers off the board the rest of the way.
 
In game two, Princeton scored the game's first two runs in the top of the first before the Crimson answered in the home half of the frame as Melito sent an RBI single up the middle. After the Tigers went up 5-1 in the top of the fifth, Harvard responded with a three-run triple from Melito to close the gap to 5-4 before the visitors escaped with the win.

Harvard Highlights: Game 1

• Sophomore Anna Reed threw 5.0 innings in the win (5-4), allowing just one run on six hits and no walks with one strikeout.
• Junior Lindsay G. Poulos threw 1.1 innings of scoreless relief before first-year Katie Arrambide came on to get the final two outs, earning her first save of the season.
• Sophomore Ella Lee tallied a double for the Crimson's one extra-base hit in game one.
• Sophomore Lauren Bobowski and junior Megan Welsh scored the runs for Harvard with Bobowski adding a hit.
• Sophomore Allison Heffley tallied a hit and two walks in the contest.

Harvard Highlights: Game 2

• Senior Morgan Melito went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a triple – her first of the season.
• Sophomores Lauren Bobowski and Allison Heffley each finished 2-for-3 with a run scored in the contest. Bobowski added a sacrifice while Heffley worked a walk.
• Junior Megan Welsh compiled a hit, a run, and a walk, junior Kaitlin Lampson posted a hit and a run, and junior Teagan Shaw tacked on a hit.
• The Crimson's batters registered nine hits and two walks in game two.
• Junior Brianna Jewett threw 3.0 innings of relief, allowing one run with one strikeout. Junior Lindsay G. Poulos tossed 3.0 innings of relief, permitting two runs – one earned.

Up Next

Harvard concludes the series with Princeton tomorrow – Sunday, Mar. 27 – at 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+).