STATESBORO, Ga. – Harvard softball split its rematches against Georgia Southern and Furman on the second day of the Bash in the Boro. The Crimson earned its third win of the season in a 5-4 comeback victory against the Eagles and fell just short against Furman in the final contest of the day, 4-3.
The opening contest of the day saw Harvard erase a four-run deficit in the sixth inning, as the Crimson secured its first extra-innings win of the year against tournament host Georgia Southern, 5-4. After driving in three runs in her collegiate debut in the season opener against Furman, first-year catcher
Quinn Salazar-Stewart propelled the Crimson offense in the comeback, driving in a team-high two runs against the Eagles.
The Crimson battled in a back-and-forth 4-3 defeat against Furman. Senior infielder
Maya Douglas drove in a team-high two runs in the contest, as the Charlotte, North Carolina native is tied for the team lead in RBIs with four in four games.
HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME ONE:
In the rematch against Georgia Southern (4-5, 0-0 Sun Belt), the hosts scored the first three runs of the contest against Harvard (3-1, 0-0 Ivy League) in the first inning, 3-0. The Eagles recorded three hits to take the lead.
At the end of the first inning, first-year
Olivia Torres made her first appearance in the circle in her Harvard career and excelled, limiting the Eagles offense with stellar pitching. A native of La Mirada, California, Torres held the Eagles offense hitless and scoreless for three-straight frames.
Georgia Southern added to its lead in the fifth inning, as a solo home run pushed the advantage, 4-0.
The Crimson offense rallied in its half of the sixth inning. First-Year outfielder
Elena Weinseimer, sophomore outfielder
Audrey Szollosi, and first-year catcher
Quinn Salazar-Stewart started the frame with three-straight singles, as Douglas put the Crimson on the board with an RBI, 4-1.
With the bases loaded, Harvard cut into the Eagles lead again in the sixth inning, as senior outfielder and team captain
Savannah Fitzpatrick brought in another run, 4-2. The Crimson completed the comeback moments later, leveling the score with two runs on an Eagles' throwing error.
Neither side found a run in the seventh inning, as a Crimson contest went into extra innings for the first time this season. In the top of the eighth, Harvard took its first lead of the ball game, as Douglas scored Salazar-Stewart with a sacrifice fly, 5-4.
As she did on opening day,
Ryan Grace silenced Georgia Southern's offense in the eighth inning, securing Harvard's third straight win to start the 2025 season.
Harvard offense scored five runs on four hits, as Grace and Torres only allowed three hits, one run, and three walks in 7.1 innings of work in the circle.
HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME TWO:
The second leg of the doubleheader saw Harvard strike first in the first inning. Walks from Szollosi and sophomore shortstop
Sophie Sun set the table for Douglas, as the 2024 All-Ivy League selection slash an RBI-single between third base and shortstop, 1-0. In its half of the first inning, Furman (2-6, 0-0 Southern Conference) tied the game up, 1-1.
In the second inning, the Paladins took the lead on a sacrifice fly, 2-1, after two walks and a single.
Harvard battled back in the fourth inning, evening the score. A leadoff walk from junior infielder
Finley Payne led to an equalizing RBI-single from sophomore designated player
Alexa Wohr, 2-2.
In the sixth, Furman retook the lead on a sacrifice fly, 3-2. In its half of the seventh, Harvard showcased its resilience again, tying the score with two outs. Junior outfielder
Lael Ayala put Harvard in a great position with a leadoff single. After a walk from Szollosi, Sun recorded her second hit of the game, as Douglas knocked an RBI-single to right center to send the contest to extra innings, 3-3.
The Paladins earned the victory in the bottom of the seventh with a walk off double, handing the Crimson its first loss of the year.
Harvard scored three runs on seven hits, as Douglas led the way with two hits and two RBIs.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:
- Douglas and Stewart are tied for the team lead in RBIs with four each.
- Across three appearances and a team-high eight innings of work, Grace leads the Crimson in earned run average (0.00), WHIP (0.88) and strikeouts (7).
- Three more Crimson made their collegiate debuts on Saturday afternoon.
- First-Years Hailey Neuner, Linden McCarl, and Torres all took the field for the first time.
UP NEXT:
Harvard ends the opening weekend of the 2025 season tomorrow morning, facing Lipscomb for the first time at 11:00 a.m.
For complete coverage of Harvard Softball, follow the team on Twitter (@HarvardSB) and Instagram (@harvardsb).
