PRINCETON, N.J. – Harvard softball battled to the end in the series finale against Princeton on the road, as the Crimson fell just short in a tightly contested game, 9-8.
The Crimson recorded 14 hits on Sunday afternoon, the most in a game for Harvard in 2025. First-Year catcher
Quinn Salazar-Stewart led the way with a career-high three hits, as she also tied her career-high in RBIs with three.
Along with Salazar-Stewart, senior infielder
Maya Douglas recorded three hits and two RBIs, including a two-run home run. Junior infielder
Finley Payne also hit a home run in the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Harvard (11-7, 0-3 Ivy League) wasted no time against Princeton (8-12, 3-0), scoring two runs in the first inning. Sophomore outfielder
Audrey Szollosi made an instant impact in the leadoff spot, proving a leadoff runner with a single. After a hit by pitch and a walk, Salazar-Stewart delivered in the cleanup spot, driving in the opening run, 1-0. A batter later, senior infielder
Priyanka Kaul doubled the Crimson advantage, dropping an RBI-single to shallow right field.
The bottom of the first saw the hosts take the lead, tallying three runs in the frame. The Crimson immediately responded in the top of the second, restoring its two-run lead with three runs. With the bases loaded, Payne found even more success at the dish, slicing a shot through the right side of the infield, leveling the score with an RBI-single, 3-3. Just like she did in the previous inning, Salazar-Stewart brought home runners, putting the Crimson up two with an RBI-single.
By the fourth inning, the Crimson offense recorded 10 hits, its seventh double-digit hit effort of the 2025 season.
In their half of the fourth, the hosts regained the lead, scoring five runs, 8-5.
Harvard answered the bell again in the fifth inning, tying the game with two home runs. First-Year outfielder
Elena Weinseimer started the inning strong, sending a pitch low in the zone to deep left centerfield for a leadoff double. On a full count, Douglas crushed a pitch to deep left field, as the ball snuck past the foul pole for a two-run home run. With two outs, Payne sent a ball that carried past the right field wall, tying the score at eight with a solo home run.
Payne and Douglas both picked up their second home runs of the campaign in the fifth inning.
Another lead change arrived in the latter half of the fifth, as Princeton scored the final run of the series on a sacrifice fly, 9-8.
The Crimson tallied 8 runs, outhitting the hosts, 14-7. The 14 hits represent a single-game season-high for Harvard in 2025.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:
- Harvard recorded 14 hits in the series finale against Princeton, the most in a game this year.
- Salazar-Stewart recorded a career-high three hits in four at-bats, as she also tied her career-high in RBIs with three.
- Douglas and Payne both hit their second home runs of the year.
- Harvard hit multiple home runs in the same game for the second time this year, as the first occurred in the 5-4 win against Saint Joseph's on opening day.
UP NEXT:
Harvard returns to Soldiers Field next weekend, welcoming Columbia for a three-game Ivy League series on Saturday, Mar. 29 and Sunday, Mar. 30. Admission is free and all contest will air live on ESPN+.
For complete coverage of Harvard Softball, follow the team on Twitter (@HarvardSB) and Instagram (@harvardsb).
