JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In its finale of the UNF-JU Classic, Harvard softball erased a two-run to deficit to defeat Iowa on Sunday morning at the UNF Softball Complex, 8-2.

First-Year infielder Sophie Sun ignited Harvard's offense in the third inning, launching Harvard's first home run of the 2024 season to tie the game. The Crimson carried that momentum for the rest of the game, scoring eight unanswered runs to win the contest.

Tossing 4.2 innings in relief, sophomore Riley Flynn held the Hawkeyes scoreless, allowing only two hits with one strikeout.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

After two scoreless innings at the UNF Softball Complex, Iowa opened the scoring in the top of the third, tallying two runs in the frame, 2-0.

Harvard produced an immediate response, tallying four runs to take the lead in its half of the third. After single from first-year outfielder Audrey Szollosi, Sun launched the first home run of her career and Harvard's first home run of the season to tie the game, 2-2.

Later in the third inning, Harvard catapulted into the lead with two more runs. Walks from sophomore infielder Finley Payne and senior outfielder Lauren Bobowski, along with a hit from junior outfielder Savannah Fitzpatrick, loaded the bases for first-year catcher Alexa Wohr who manufactured a great at-bat with a sacrifice fly, 3-2. After junior infielder Maya Douglas earned Harvard's third walk of the frame, senior infielder Madi Mays ripped a single to right field to score the last run of the inning, 4-2.

The Crimson offense kept producing runs in the fourth inning, tallying two more runs. With Szollosi on second, Payne lined a single to right field to score Szollosi, 5-2. Bobowoksi brought in the second run of the frame with an RBI-single, scoring Payne, 6-2.

Harvard tallied the final two runs of the game in the sixth inning. With two runners on base, an Iowa throwing error allowed Szollosi to score, 7-2. Wohr recorded her sixth RBI of the game to extend the Crimson lead, 8-2.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• Harvard scored eight runs on eight hits against Iowa, both season-highs
• In her first weekend with the Crimson, Wohr logged six hits on 13 at-bats with six RBIs, leading Harvard in hits and RBIs this weekend.
• Over the first five-games of the 2024 season, Harvard's pitching staff posted a .65 earned run average, holding opponents to seven runs and 18 hits over five games.
• Harvard outscored its opponents 23-7 this weekend.

UP NEXT:

The Crimson travel south again next weekend, heading to Atlanta, Ga. to compete in the Panther Invitational, hosted by Georgia State.

For complete coverage of Harvard Softball, follow the team on Twitter (@HarvardSB) and Instagram (@harvardsb).