PRINCETON, N.J. – Harvard softball kicked off Ivy League play with a doubleheader against Princeton on Saturday afternoon, as the Crimson dropped both contests against the Tigers in the Garden State.

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME ONE:

The hosts struck first against Harvard (11-6, 0-2 Ivy League), as Princeton (7-12, 2-0) tallied three runs in the first inning on a home run. From there, junior pitcher Riley Flynn settled in on the mound, retiring eight straight batters, sitting down three of them on strikes.

After a scoreless second frame, Princeton added onto its lead with an RBI-double in the second inning, pushing the lead to four.

The Tigers added to its tally in the fifth and sixth inning, as Princeton secured the win in the first contest of the series, 8-0. Harvard matched the hosts with six hits, as five different Crimson collected hits in the series opener. Junior infielder Finley Payne led the way at the plate, recording two hits. A native of Liberty Township, Ohio, Payne has two multi-hit efforts in the past three games.

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME TWO:

In game two, Princeton scored the first runs in the opening frame on a home run, bringing in three runs.

Both pitching staffs found success in the second and third innings, as the frames ended scoreless. The bottom of the fourth saw Princeton score three additional runs, extending its lead, 6-0. From there, Princeton held on, winning the second game of the series.

Payne continued to find success at the plate in game two, logging a double in the first inning. First-Year catcher Quinn Salazar-Stewart also picked up a base hit in the contest.

UP NEXT:

Harvard returns to the diamond tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. for the series finale against Princeton. Crimson fans can watch every inning live on ESPN+.

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