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Harvard softball
3
Winner Dartmouth DART(1~1 4-11, 2-2 Ivy
2
Harvard HARV 10-13-1, 2-2 Ivy
Winner
Dartmouth DART(1~1
4-11, 2-2 Ivy
3
Final
2
Harvard HARV
10-13-1, 2-2 Ivy
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Dartmouth DART(1~1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 10 0
Harvard HARV 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 6 1

W: Maddox, Charley (3-5) L: Grace, Ryan (1-2)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Falls in Extra Innings Against Dartmouth in Series Opener

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard softball opened its 2026 home slate with an extra innings contest against Dartmouth at Soldiers Field, as the Crimson fell just short in extra innings, 3-2.

At the plate, five different Crimson logged a hit, as senior infielder Finley Payne led the way with two hits and a pivotal RBI in the bottom of the seventh inning. A native of Liberty Township, Ohio, Payne has now produced multiple hits in six contests during the 2026 campaign.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Strong showings in the circle defined the early stages of the showdown between Harvard (10-13-1, 2-2 Ivy League) and Dartmouth (4-11, 2-2), as only run was scored in the first two frames of the day. In the top of the second, Dartmouth scored the first run of the Ancient Eight clash, 1-0.

Harvard battled back, almost drawing level in the bottom of the third inning. Junior outfielder and team captain Audrey Szollosi started the frame with a single on the first pitch she saw, as sophomores Quinn Salazar-Stewart and Alexa Muller worked two-out walks to load the bases. Payne almost changed the game with one swing, as she sent a shot to deep center field that was caught at the wall.

The fifth inning saw Harvard and Dartmouth each exchange runs. After the visitors extended their lead, 2-0, the Crimson tallied their first run of the day in the bottom of the fifth. After producing a leadoff walk, junior infielder Sophie Sun advanced all the way to third on a wild pitch and stolen base, as Salazar-Stewart skied a pitch into center field for a sacrifice fly, 2-1.

Harvard completed the comeback in the bottom of the seventh to send a contest to extra innings for the third time this season. A walk from sophomore catcher Hailey Neuner sparked the rally, as Salazar-Stewart doubled down the left field line to put two runners in scoring position. Muller worked a walk to load the bases, as Payne singled into the gap in left centerfield to send the contest into extra innings with an RBI single, 2-2.

After neither team scored the winning run in the eighth inning, Dartmouth would take the 3-2 win with a run in the ninth. Harvard ended the day with two runs on six hits, as Payne produced a two-hit showing with an RBI, as she now has six multi-hit performances this season. Junior pitcher Nicolette Hunter started the game for the Crimson, as the Camarillo, California native picked up five strikeouts and only allowed two runs across four innings. Coming out of the bullpen, senior pitcher and team captain Ryan Grace pitched five innings, picking up two strikeouts while only allowing one run.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
  • In Ivy League play, Salazar-Stewart owns a .462 batting average, scoring three runs across four games.
  • Payne records multiple hits in a game for the sixth time this season.
  • Hunter strikes out five batters in back-to-back contests.
  • Szollosi extends her hitting streak to four games.
  • Harvard manufactures nine walks at the plate in a single game for the second time this season.
UP NEXT

Harvard and Dartmouth close out the series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 12:30 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Admission to Soldiers Field is free of charge and both contests will air live on ESPN+.

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