CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard softball returned to Soldiers Field with a back-and-forth series opener against Columbia, as the Crimson fell just short, 9-8. Due to darkness, game two play was suspended in the bottom of the sixth with Harvard owning a 4-1 lead.

Harvard will resume play in game two tomorrow at 12:30 p.m., as game three will commence shortly after the conclusion of game two.

In game one between the Crimson and the Lions, both offenses produced at the dish. For a second straight contest, Harvard set a new single-game season high in hits, tallying 15 across seven frames.

The bottom of the sixth saw Harvard's bats ignite, scoring six runs in the inning. A nominee for Ivy League Player of the Week last week, junior infielder Finley Payne went a perfect four-for-four, setting a new career-high for hits in a single game. Senior infielder Priyanka Kaul and senior outfielder Savannah Fitzpatrick both drove in two runs. Columbia scored two runs in the top of the sixth to secure the win.

Through six and a half innings in game two, Harvard controlled the momentum against the Lions. Sophomore pitcher Nicolette Hunter started the second game, allowing only one run on five hits through six innings of work. At the plate, sophomore outfielder Audrey Szollosi tallied two hits and a run.

Frames from Soldiers ??#GoCrimson #LND pic.twitter.com/LXLxHjAhgv
— Harvard Softball (@HarvardSB) March 28, 2025
 

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME ONE:

Both offenses started fast in the series opener, as Harvard (11-8, 0-4 Ivy League) and Columbia (10-10, 4-0) traded runs in the first inning. The visitors took the initial lead on a wild pitch, as the Crimson answered immediately in its half of the first frame. Back-to-back singles from Payne and first-year catcher Quinn Salazar-Stewart set up a two-out scoring chance with Kaul due up. The senior made the most of the moment, clearing the bases with her first triple of the year to give the Crimson the lead, 2-1.

A native of Plainsboro, New Jersey, Kaul leads all Crimson this season with 16 RBIs, just one shy of matching her career-high set last season.

The visitors jumped out in front in the second inning with a home run and built their lead to 7-2 with three extra base hits in the fourth.

The Crimson stormed back in the fifth inning, scoring six runs to take its first lead since the first inning. Harvard started the fifth with four straight hits, as singles from Szollosi and Payne scored two runs, 7-4.

After a fielder's choice scored another Harvard run, the Crimson retook the lead on back-to-back at-bats. With two runners on, Fitzpatrick slashed a single to centerfield, scoring two Crimson to tie the game at seven all. On the first pitch of her at-bat, senior infielder Maya Douglas crushed a pitch to deep right field, scoring Fitzpatrick with an RBI-double to put Harvard in front, 8-7.

ALL THE WAY BACK 

Maya gives us the lead in the fifth!

??5 | Harvard 8, Columbia 7

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??https://t.co/Vs1YvmxTj2#GoCrimson #LND pic.twitter.com/Xsh8SFwRRI
— Harvard Softball (@HarvardSB) March 28, 2025
 

With six runs in the fifth inning against the Lions, Harvard tied its season-high for runs scored in a single-inning, a mark initially set in the 9-5 win against Santa Clara on Friday, Mar. 14. The Crimson also recorded eight hits in the inning.

Columbia scored the eventual game-winning runs in the sixth inning with a home run, taking the series opener, 9-8.

Harvard tallied a season-high 15 hits with eight runs, as four different Crimson recorded multi-hit efforts against the Lions in game one.

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME TWO:

Harvard bounced back in the opening moments of the second game of the doubleheader. After two scoreless innings, the Crimson tallied the first two runs of the contest in the bottom of the third. The first run scored on a wild pitch, as the second was brought home on a groundout.

The fourth inning saw the visitors cut into the Harvard advantage with a triple, as the Crimson pushed its lead up to three an inning later.

With one out, sophomore infielder Sophie Sun provided Harvard a base runner with a single, as a walk from junior outfielder Lael Ayala put two runners on for first-year infielder Alexa Muller. The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida native rose to the occasion, clearing the bases with a two-run RBI single, pushing the Crimson lead to three, 4-1.

Adding On ?

Alexa Muller brings in two more!
 
?? 4 | Harvard 4, Columbia 1

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??https://t.co/Vs1YvmxTj2#GoCrimson #LND pic.twitter.com/TYazWAfz8U
— Harvard Softball (@HarvardSB) March 28, 2025
 

In the circle, Hunter kept the Lions' offense in check, allowing one run on five hits with three timely strikeouts.

Play in the second game was suspended with no outs in the bottom of the sixth and will resume at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• For a second straight game, the Crimson set a new single-game season high, tallying 15 in the series opener against Columbia.
• In the fifth inning of game one against Columbia, Harvard tied its season-high for runs scored in a single inning, bringing home six runs in the frame with eight hits.
• Kaul leads Harvard with 16 RBIs this season, just one shy of tying her career-high from last season.
• Payne went four-for-four in the first game of the series against Columbia, setting a new career-high for hits in a game.

UP NEXT:

Harvard returns to the diamond at 12:30 p.m. for the conclusion of game two, as the series finale between the Crimson and Lions will take place shortly after the end of game two.

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