ITHACA, N.Y. – Harvard softball fell by a score of 10-4 to Cornell (16-21, 6-12 Ivy) to conclude its regular-season schedule. The Crimson (21-18, 15-6 Ivy) clinched the No. 2 seed in the Ivy League and a spot in the Ivy Playoff Series with its pair of victories over the Big Red yesterday.
The Crimson got out to an early lead in the top of the first, with the top of the order setting the table through a
Morgan Melito double and
Lauren Bobowski walk. Melito would score the game's first run on a
Madi Mays groundout, before
Allison Heffley stole home on a double steal executed perfectly with
Teagan Shaw (reached on hit-by-pitch) swiping second and drawing the throw down.
Cornell would battle back in the third inning, plating four runs to take a 4-2 lead after a three-run shot from backstop Celia Macari. The Big Red extended its advantage in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs, capped by another home run from Macari to make it a 9-2 game.
The Crimson started to battle back in the top of the sixth inning, with
Marissa Zheng drawing a walk before advancing to third on an
Ella Lee double down the left field line.
Trina Hoang plated Zheng with a sac fly to right, also advancing Lee to third, before
Kaitlin Lampson roped a single to center field to score Lee and make it a 9-4 game. Escaping further damage, the Big Red would tack on one more run in the bottom of the sixth to secure the 10-4 victory.
Harvard will now turn its focus to the aforementioned Ivy League Playoff Series at Princeton (25-14-2; 17-4 Ivy). Game 1 is set for Friday, May 13, with first pitch set for noon ET. The entire series will air live on ESPN+.
