Harvard University

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard split two games with Dartmouth on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Soldiers Field, taking the first game, 4-1, before dropping Game 2 by a score of 11-6. The Crimson (18-17) and Big Green (18-22) will head into Sunday's finale tied for second place in the Ivy League standings at 12-5.
 
Harvard opened the afternoon by making an early statement, scoring two runs in the first inning of Game 1. Following a Lauren Bobowski walk and a Morgan Melito single, Madi Mays stepped to the plate and ripped a one-out double to left center. The Crimson later had two runners aboard but was unable to add to its lead.
 
The advantage was all Anna Reed needed as she routinely forced Dartmouth into putting up a zero in its half of the line score. In fact, in four of the first five innings, the sophomore retired the Big Green in order. The visitors, however, stressed Reed in the sixth, loading the bases, but Katie Arrambide came in and put out the fire to keep Dartmouth off the scoreboard.
 
In its half of the sixth inning, Harvard added two more insurance runs as Kaitlin Lampson doubled with the bases loaded, plating Mackenzie Tyler and Teagan Shaw to make it a 4-0 game. Dartmouth later spoiled the Crimson's shutout bid with a run in the top of the seventh, but that was the extent of the Big Green's damage as the hosts collected the victory.
 
Game 2 was the complete opposite of the first game as Dartmouth jumped on Harvard with three runs in the first inning and two more in the top of the fourth to extend its lead to 5-0.
 
The Crimson responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of the fourth, opening with singles from Allison Heffley and Bobowski (Marissa Zheng pinch ran), only to be brought home by a Melito double. Harvard added a third run on a Shaw fielder's choice.
 
With the Crimson now within two of the Big Green, the visitors responded with three more runs to take an 8-3 lead. Despite the disappointment, Harvard fought back, scoring on an error, a Melito RBI single and Mays sac fly to, again, make it a two-run game.
 
After a pair of scoreless innings, Dartmouth put the score out of reach, crossing home plate three more times, pushing its lead to 11-6. The Crimson had the bases loaded with one out in the home half of the seventh, but a double play thwarted its comeback attempt.
 
Following the second game, the program recognized its Class of 2022 – Grace Krantz, Morgan Melito, Charlotte Ruhl and Alyssa Saldana. The quartet helped Harvard to Ivy League championships and NCAA appearances in 2018 and 2019, which represented the last two completed seasons in the Ivy League.
 
Harvard returns to Soldiers Field on Sunday for the series finale vs. Dartmouth. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m. ET with the game airing live on ESPN+. The contest will re-air on NESN at 7 p.m. ET.