CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard softball battled against Brown at Soldiers Field this afternoon, dropping both games of a doubleheader against the Bears.

In the first game, Brown scored the first three runs of the contest in the third inning, holding off a Crimson rally to take the 8-2 victory. The second contest of the afternoon saw Harvard score the first four runs of the day, as Brown overcame the deficit to take both games of the doubleheader, 11-6.

First-Year designated player Alexa Muller provided a spark for the Crimson at the plate, driving in a team-high four runs with two hits, all arriving in the second game. Junior infielder Finley Payne and sophomore infielder Sophie Sun both recorded three hits across the two games, tied for the team lead on the day.

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME ONE:

The series opener between Harvard (19-10, 8-6 Ivy League) and Brown (24-11, 9-5) saw two of the Ivy League's top pitching talents face off. Sophomore Nicolette Hunter got the start for the Crimson, while Brown's senior Alexis Guevera started for the Bears.

Both pitchers tossed scoreless frames in the first and second, as Brown produced the first runs in the third inning, scoring three on four hits.

Harvard responded in its half of the third, pulling two runs back. First-Year outfielder Elena Weinseimer started the frame off with a leadoff walk on five pitches, as Payne put two runners on for Sun with a single to deep right center field. On a 3-0 count, Sun pounced a pitch, sending a shot all the way to the wall in centerfield for a two-run RBI-triple, 3-2.

The Bears' offense struck again in the fourth inning. Back-to-back singles from Laurel Moody and Guevera scored a run, pushing the visitors' lead to two. In the fifth, Brown added to the advantage with four runs, securing the win, 8-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME TWO:

Harvard bounced back in the second inning of the second leg of the twinbill, taking the lead with two runs. With two runners on, senior infielder Maya Douglas sent a shot to deep center field, scoring a run with an RBI-double, 1-0. A batter later, senior infielder Priyanka Kaul drove a line drive to shallow center field, doubling Harvard's lead.

An inning later, the Crimson bats manufactured more runs, adding two more in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back singles from Sun and Payne set the stage for Muller. The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida native shined, clearing the bases with a two-run RBI-single.

In the fourth and the fifth frames, the visitors tallied 10 total runs, taking a 10-4 lead to the bottom of the fifth.

Muller stepped up again at the plate in the Crimson's half of the fifth. Walks from Payne and senior outfielder Savannah Fitzpatrick put two on for the first-year. Behind in the count, Muller drove a ball in the gap, scoring Fitzpatrick and Payne to pull Harvard within four of the Bears. With the hit, Muller picked up her fourth RBI of the contest, setting a new career-high for RBIs in a single-game.

In the sixth, Brown added a run on a sacrifice fly, securing its 11-6 victory in the second game of the doubleheader. The Crimson tallied six runs on eight hits, as Muller led the way with two hits and four RBIs, both team-highs.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• Muller drove in four runs in the second game against the Bears, setting a new career-high for RBIs in a game.
• Fitzpatrick picked up hits in both of the games against Brown today, extending her hitting streak to eight games, the longest active hitting streak on Harvard.
• With three hits each, Payne and Sun were tied for the team lead in hits in the doubleheader against Brown.

UP NEXT:

The Crimson and Bears return to the field tomorrow for the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and all the action will air live on ESPN+.

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