NEW HAVEN, Conn. – In a back-and-forth, thrilling showdown on the road, Harvard softball outlasted Yale, 1-0, in the weekend finale to earn its first series victory in Ivy League action this season.
Harvard's incredible pitching and defense headlined the dramatic win against the Bulldogs at 5K Corral Field at DeWitt Family Stadium. Junior pitcher
Nicolette Hunter made an impact both in the circle and at the plate in the series finale, tossing five scoreless frames while only allowing three hits with five strikeouts. Hunter also hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to score the only run of the contest.
Entering the game in the sixth inning, senior pitcher and team captain
Ryan Grace was lights out, only allowing one hit with four strikeouts, two of them to secure the final two outs of the series.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Incredible pitching defined the majority of the series finale between Harvard (10-12-1, 2-1 Ivy League) and Yale (8-15, 2-4), as the scoreline stood at 0-0 heading into the fourth inning.
The Crimson's current leader in inning pitched with 63.2 this season, Hunter found success early and often in her second start this weekend. Through the first three innings against the Bulldogs, Hunter only allowed two hits, collecting five strike outs in the process. In the fourth inning, Hunter orchestrated an iconic moment at the plate, hitting a solo home run to score the eventual game-winning run, 1-0.
A native of Camarillo, California, Hunter hits a home run in consecutive contests for the first time in her collegiate career, becoming just the second Crimson to accomplish this feat during the 2026 campaign. Hunter is only one of three Crimson to hit multiple home runs this season.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Harvard ended the inning and preserved the lead with a sensational defensive effort. With the count at 0-1, Yale's Jane Littleton lofted a pitch towards the right field line, as senior outfielder
Lael Ayala dove and made the snow cone catch to end the inning.
Grace entered the circle in the sixth inning and shut the door on Yale's rally. With two outs, a runner on second and a full count, Grace ended the inning with a swinging strikeout. The bottom of the seventh saw Grace retire the Bulldogs in order, picking up two strikeouts for the final two outs.
Harvard tallied one run on five hits with zero errors, as Ayala ended the day with two hits, her first multi-hit effort of the season and the only student-athlete in the series finale to record multiple hits. Hunter tossed five scoreless innings in the circle, striking out five batters while only allowing three hits and two walks.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
- Harvard wins its first Ivy League series of the season by blanking the Bulldogs, 1-0, on the road in today's series finale.
- The Crimson shutout an opponent in a full seven inning contest for the second time this season. This is Harvard's third shutout overall in the 2026 campaign.
- Across two starts and 10.1 innings pitched against Yale this weekend, Hunter only allowed one run and five hits, striking out eight batters in the process.
- Hunter is only the third Crimson this season to hit multiple home runs, as she joins junior infielder Sophie Sun as the only Crimson to hit home runs in consecutive games this year.
- Harvard's pitching staff held the Bulldogs to a .192 batting average this weekend.
- The Crimson is now 10-5 in the last 15 meetings against Yale.
UP NEXT
Harvard welcomes Dartmouth to Soldiers Field for the home opening series on Saturday, Mar. 28 and Sunday, Mar. 29. Admission to Soldiers Field is free of charge and all three contests will air live on ESPN+.
For complete coverage of Harvard Softball, follow the team on Twitter (@HarvardSB) and Instagram (@harvardsb).
