JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Harvard softball began the 2024 on a high note, earning a pair of wins against Manhattan and Jacksonville at day one of the JU-UNF Classic. The two victories mark the first wins under the direction of head coach
Jenny Rohn.
Harvard earned a 4-0 victory in the season opener against Manhattan. The Crimson pitching staff was excellent in the circle, as senior pitcher
Anna Reed and sophomore pitcher
Riley Flynn combined for a shutout, striking out nine batters and allowing just three hits. In her collegiate debut, first-year
Alexa Wohr drove in two runs on two hits in two at bats.
The Crimson ended opening day strong, defeating tournament co-host Jacksonville, 4-1. The pitchers carried their momentum from game one into the showdown with the Dolphins, limiting Jacksonville's offense to one run on one hit.
HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME ONE:
Reed started for the Crimson (2-0) in the circle against Manhattan (0-1), as the veteran pitcher was stellar against the Jaspers. The San Luis Obispo, Calif. native kept Manhattan scoreless over three innings of work, striking out three while only allowing three hits.
Harvard scored the eventual game-winning runs in the fifth inning. First-Year infielder
Megan Davies led-off with a productive at-bat, slicing a single to center field on a full count. With fellow classmate Wohr up to bat, Davies stole second to set up a scoring opportunity for Harvard. Wohr provided Harvard the lead, hitting an RBI single to put the Crimson ahead, 1-0.
The next at-bat saw junior
Maya Douglas take advantage of a pinch-hitting opportunity, as the Charlotte, N.C. native drove a ball to center field, scoring Wohr on an RBI-single.
The Crimson tallied insurance runs in the sixth inning. Back-to-back walks from senior infielder
Molly Dickerson and Davies put two runners on base for Wohr. The rookie kept her composure at the plate, driving in another run with her second single of the contest, 3-0. A one-run RBI double from senior outfielder and team captain
Lauren Bobowski put the game out of reach, 4-0.
The Crimson manufactured four runs on five hits with no errors in the field. Flynn earned her first pitching win of her sophomore season after pitching four scoreless relief innings, allowing no hits with six strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME TWO:
Jacksonville (3-8) took an early lead in its half of the first inning. With a runner on third, Allis Bratek hit a sacrifice fly to score the opening run of the game, 1-0.
In the top of the fourth, Harvard leveled the score. Junior captain
Savannah Fitzpatrick started the inning strong, slapping a single to left field on the first pitch of the at-bat. After single from fellow captain
Madi Mays, a groundout from Wohr brought in the tying run, 1-1.
A three-run fifth inning secured Harvard's second win of the day. Consecutive singles from Douglas and Bobowski set the stage for Fitzpatrick to drive in the go-ahead run, 2-1. The Crimson loaded the bases after hit by pitch, as a fielding error from Dolphins allowed two Harvard runners to reach home, 4-1.
The game was called in the sixth inning after persistent weather conditions prevented play from resuming.
In its second win of the year, Harvard scored four runs on six hits. Junior
Katie Arrambide and first-year
Nicolette Hunter were lights-out in the circle against Jacksonville, allowing one run on one hit while logging four strikeouts.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:
- The Crimson's 4-0 win against Manhattan marks the first victory of Rohn's tenure as head coach of Harvard softball.
- All four of Harvard pitchers saw action in the circle against Manhattan and Jacksonville. The Crimson pitching staff allowed just one run and four hits, striking out a total of 13 batters across both games of the doubleheader.
- In her first career collegiate game, Wohr went 2-for-2 at the plate, bringing home two runs with two singles.
UP NEXT:
Harvard continues its time in Jacksonville, Fla. with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 24. The Crimson play a rematch against Manhattan at 1:30 p.m. and take on North Florida at 6:30 p.m.
For complete coverage of Harvard Softball, follow the team on Twitter (@HarvardSB) and Instagram (@harvardsb).
