PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Home runs from four different Crimson made the difference in Harvard softball's 11-1 run-rule win against Penn in the series finale. With the victory, the Crimson sweep an Ivy League opponent for the first time this year.

After homering yesterday in the doubleheader against the Quakers, junior infielder Finley Payne, senior infielder Maya Douglas and sophomore infielder Sophie Sun all added their second home runs of the weekend. A native of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, first-year designated player Alexa Muller put final touches on the game with a home run in the sixth inning, the first of her collegiate career.

Making her third start of the weekend, sophomore Nicolette Hunter continued her stellar form in the circle, allowing only four hits and one run with three strikeouts across 3.1 innings of work. Junior Riley Flynn closed the series out with 2.2 scoreless and hitless innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The scoring opened up in the second inning, as Harvard (16-8, 5-4 Ivy League) tallied the first four runs against Penn (2-26-1, 0-11). With two runners in scoring position, first-year outfielder Elena Weinseimer brought home the opening run with a fielder's choice. Just one at-bat later, Payne broke the game wide open, launching a three-run home run to deep left field, 4-0.

A native of Liberty Township, Ohio, Payne set a career-high in home runs with four and is currently batting a career-best .369.

Harvard continued its scoring run in the next inning, as Douglas fired off her second home of the run to push the Crimson advantage to five runs. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Douglas is tied with Sun for the team lead in home runs with six each.

After the Quakers got on the board in the third, Sun restored Harvard's five-run lead with a solo home run, the 16^th of her collegiate career.

In the sixth inning, the Crimson recorded five runs, putting the game to rest. With Sun on third, first-year catcher Quinn Salazar-Stewart scored Harvard's seventh run with a sacrifice fly, as Douglas scored two more with her third hit of the afternoon, 9-1. Muller put the finishing touches on the win with a two-run home run, her first collegiate home run.

Harvard scored 11 runs on 11 hits, logging double-digit runs for the second time this year. The four home runs against the Quakers are the most in a game for Harvard this year.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• For the first time this season, Harvard swept an Ivy League opponent in a three-game series.
• Harvard hit four home runs in the series finale against Penn, the most in a game in 2025.
• Across three starts and a team-high 11.1 innings this weekend, Hunter posted a 1.24 ERA with a team-best 10 strikeouts.
• Harvard outscored Penn, 18-3, across all three games in the series.
• Crimson batters only struck out four times in 85 at-bats during the Penn series.

UP NEXT:

Harvard returns to Soldiers Field next weekend, hosting Yale on Saturday, Apr. 12 and Sunday, Apr. 13.

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