CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard softball welcomed Crimson fans to Soldiers Field for the first time in 2024 on Friday afternoon, as Harvard split a doubleheader against Dartmouth.

In a thrilling offensive showcase, Harvard outlasted Dartmouth to win the series opener, 9-6. The Crimson recorded a season-high 13 hits against the Big Green, as nine different student-athletes recorded a hit against Dartmouth. The reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week, first-year infielder Sophie Sun went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and one RBI.

Dartmouth evened the series with a 3-0 victory in game two.

Taking the W in the home opener ??

An incredible hitting display lifts Harvard to a win against Dartmouth!#GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/WR66RshvP3
— Harvard Softball (@HarvardSB) March 22, 2024
 

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME ONE:

The scoring in game got started immediately at Soldiers Field, as Dartmouth took the initial lead in the first inning. A Big Green leadoff triple set up a sacrifice fly later in the frame, 1-0. The Crimson responded with a bang, recording five runs in the bottom of the first. In the first two Harvard at-bats of the game, senior outfielder Lauren Bobowski roped a leadoff single, followed by a double to deep right field from Sun. With two runners on, sophomore designated player Finley Payne slipped a two-run RBI-single past the Big Green infield, clearing the bases, 2-1.

After Payne's RBI-single, junior infielder Priyanka Kaul skied a sacrifice fly to left field to score the third run of the inning, 3-1. The Crimson kept rolling, as junior infielder Maya Douglas found the gap in the outfield on a full count for a one-run RBI-double, 4-1. In the next at-bat, sophomore outfielder Lael Ayala hit a line drive RBI-single to score the last run of the inning, 5-1.

The Crimson keep rolling in the first, as Maya Douglas rips a double to score another run!

??1 | HARV 4 - DART 1

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??https://t.co/oAPWRJ9qUu pic.twitter.com/dada4UwMr6
— Harvard Softball (@HarvardSB) March 22, 2024
 

Dartmouth cut into the Harvard lead in the next inning, as the Big Green hit a leadoff solo home run to center field, 5-2.

The Crimson offense kept producing, though, recording two more runs in its half of the second. Sun found more success at the dish, drilling a double to left field to put two runners on, as Harvard extended the lead in the next at-bat on a fielding error, 6-2. Senior infielder Madi Mays hit a sacrifice fly before the second came to a close, 7-2.

The Big Green scored four runs across the third and fourth innings, pulling within one in the fourth with a bases clearing three-run RBI-double, 7-6.

Harvard responded in its part of the fourth inning. After Sun sent a single back up the middle for a leadoff single, junior catcher Savannah Fitzpatrick snuck an RBI-single past the Big Green infield, 8-6.

After a scoreless fifth inning, Harvard secured its 10^th win of the season with one run in the sixth inning, as Kaul sent home a run with a groundout.

Harvard scored nine runs on a season-high 13 hits in the 9-6 win against the Big Green. First-Year pitcher Nicolette Hunter was vital in Harvard's win against Dartmouth, as the Camarillo, Calif. native held Dartmouth scoreless with just one hit across 3.2 relief innings, striking out three Big Green batters.

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME TWO:

A show stopping grab from Bobo in the outfield! ??

The senior keeps the Big Green off the base paths with a stellar catch in centerfield 

?? 5 | HARV 0 - DART 2

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??https://t.co/Yiocb1iKeA#GoCrimson x #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/324Pe3Mbkm
— Harvard Softball (@HarvardSB) March 22, 2024
 

The Big Green scored two runs in the second inning, one a groundout and another on a fielding error, 2-0. After four scoreless frames, Dartmouth scored the third and final run of the contest in the seventh inning on a wild pitch, 3-0.

After her stellar outing out of the bullpen in game one, Hunter got the start in game two, going 2.1 innings, allowing two unearned runs and five hits with one strikeout. Senior pitcher Anna Reed provided 4.2 innings of relief, allowing just one run on four hits with three strikeouts. Payne recorded a single in the first inning.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• Harvard scored nine runs in the first game against Dartmouth, setting a new season-high in hits with 13.
• The reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week, Sun went 3-for-3 at the plate in the 9-6 win against the Big Green, hitting a pair of doubles with one RBI and one walk.
• Payne tied her single-game career high in RBIs with three in game one.
• Hunter was critical in the Crimson's 9-6 win against Dartmouth, holding the Big Green scoreless in 3.2 innings of relief.

UP NEXT:

After a day off, Harvard concludes the series against Dartmouth on Sunday, Mar. 24. First pitch at Soldiers Field is scheduled for 12:30 PM and all the action will stream live on ESPN+.

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