CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Harvard continues its season-long six-game homestand this weekend when Penn visits Soldiers Field. Saturday will feature a doubleheader that will air on ESPN+, beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET. Sunday's affair will also be on ESPN+ at 12:30 p.m. ET.
What to Know
- The Crimson swept its series at Columbia last weekend before returning home to face Boston University for a Tuesday doubleheader. Harvard was on the short end of a 5-0 Game 1 decision and lost, 8-0, in a six-inning Game 2 that was called due to darkness.
- Harvard broke out its bats during its sweep of Columbia, scoring 21 runs over the three games. The Crimson's nine runs in Game 1 was tied for its second most of the season and most since its second game of 2022, a 9-1 win at Stetson on Feb. 25.
- The Crimson pitching vs. the Lions was outstanding as it allowed just two runs over three games. The two runs were Harvard's fewest over any three-game stretch this season and fewest in a three-game span since the first three games of 2017, when it lost to Manhattan, 1-0 (Feb. 24), defeated Detroit Mercy, 15-1 (Feb. 24), and blanked Stony Brook, 8-0 (Feb. 25).
- Harvard cranked out three home runs at Columbia, with each coming in big spots. Madi Mays set the tone in the first inning of Game 1 with a three-run shot as the Crimson went on to win in five innings, 9-1. In Game 2, Morgan Melito connected on a three-run homer to cap a four-run third inning. Three innings later, Kendall Jean pinch-hit with the bases loaded and took a 1-0 offering over the left-field wall, sending Harvard to an 8-0 six-inning victory.
- Melito, who started all three games at Columbia, finished the series with a team-best .571 average after going 4-for-7 with three runs, three RBI and two walks. She had an OPS of 1.667, stole a base and was error-free.
- Lauren Bobowski scored a team-best four times during the Columbia series and shared the team lead in stolen bases with Molly Dickerson as the pair both went 2-for-2. During Harvard's time in New York City, it was 8-for-8 in stolen-base attempts.
- Anna Reed and Katie Arrambide were nearly untouchable at Columbia. Reed had two complete games and an ERA of 0.58 with two runs allowed (one earned) and 10 strikeouts. Arrambide, meanwhile, posted a complete-game shutout in Game 2, while striking out two.
- Despite the two losses to BU on Tuesday, Allison Heffley and Teagan Shaw both extended a pair of hitting streaks. Heffley, who went 3-for-6 in the two contests combined, enters this weekend on a career-best nine-game hitting streak (.462; 12-for-26). Shaw, meanwhile, went 2-for-3 at the plate against the Terriers and has recorded a hit in three straight games (.500; 3-for-6), which is a season-long streak.
- The Penn-Harvard match-up features the No. 2 and 3 team, respectively, in the 2022 Ivy League Preseason Media Poll. The Quakers earned 105 points and three first-place votes, while the Crimson picked up 104 points and a conference-best seven first-place tallies.
- Harvard finds itself in a first-place tie in the Ivy standings with Princeton as both are 6-3. Penn, meanwhile, comes into the weekend series in third place at 5-4.
- Harvard leads the all-time series with Penn, 58-20-1, and has won five of the last seven meetings. The Quakers, however, won two of three back in 2019.
- Harvard head coach Jenny Allard enters this weekend's games on the verge of capturing her 650th career win with the Crimson. The 27th-year head coach, who is the winningest and longest-tenured coach in the Ivy League, owns a career record of 649-496-3 (317-122-1 Ivy League).
At the Helm
Jenny Allard is in her 27th season at the helm of the Harvard softball program and will be inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame in 2022. She has helped guide the Crimson to the last two Ivy League titles (2018, 2019) and owns a career record of 649-496-3.
Up Next
Harvard will return to action on Tuesday, April 12, when it welcomes Providence to Soldiers Field. The game is set for a 4 p.m. ET start and will air on ESPN+.
