Harvard Sweeps CU in Dual Victory

In both games of its doubleheader against Harvard, the Columbia softball team was beaten by a final score of 10-3 in Cambridge, Mass to fall to 12-18 on the season, and 3-3 in the Ivy League.

In game one, the Crimson’s left fielder Emily Henderson and second baseman Ellen Macadam combined to hit 7-for-8 on the day with three runs and four RBIs. Henderson led off the game with a bunt single, stole second base, and was doubled home by Macadam for the first run of the game. Right fielder Jennifer Francis knocked in Macadam to make the score 2-0 at the end of the first inning.

The Lions trailed 4-0 after Macadam’s two-run single in the bottom of the second. In the fourth inning, the Lions rallied, thanks to a trio of Crimson errors. Shortstop Keli Leong singled to lead off the inning but was later thrown out on a steal attempt. On the same play, first baseman Dani Pineda reached base on a throwing error by Harvard shortstop Bailey Vertovez. Left fielder Ciji Rich singled, and both Rich and Pineda advanced on a throwing error by Francis.

Freshman pitcher Maggie Johnson reached base on another throwing error by Vertovez, allowing Pineda to score, and pinch hitter Alex Rodriguez doubled home both Rich and Johnson to narrow the deficit to 4-3 in favor of Harvard.

Harvard scored every inning after that, and scored three in the seventh to put the game out of reach.

Johnson was tagged for four earned runs off of seven hits in just two innings of work and fell to 8-6 on the year. Aimee Kemp lasted an inning longer in relief, but also yielded seven hits and four earned runs. Erica Clauss allowed two runs, one earned, in her inning of relief.

While the Lions drew blood first in the second inning of game two, the end result was the same, as they fell to the Crimson by the same score, 10-3.

Center fielder Jackie Ecker led off the game with a walk, and after Chantee Dempsey walked, Leong was also issued a free pass. Pineda’s infield bunt single allowed Leong to advance to third and Ecker to score on the throwing error by the catcher.

Harvard came back to score five runs in the second inning, leaving Columbia behind. Kemp lasted 1 2/3 innings in her eighth loss of the year, and Deanna Minuto allowed four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched.

The Light Blue will try to salvage its road trip tomorrow in Hanover, N.H. against Dartmouth. The Lions will face the Big Green in a doubleheader with games scheduled for 2 and 4 p.m.