The batswomen pulled ahead in the bottom of the second, as Gerri Rubin walked and scored on an infield error, and designated hitter Ellen Cox--who had also walked--scored the go-ahead on a double-steal.

Falcon pitcher Sue Cigue did absolutely nothing to help her own cause in the last of the third, walking in one run and letting another come in on a wild pitch.

By the time Dickerman finally yielded the single to Courette, Harvard held a 5-2 edge.

Bentley loaded the bases with two down in the fifth, but Dickerman escaped unscathed when shortstop Annie Charron popped to shallow right. That pop-up almost turned into a disaster, when second baseman Baldauf--who eventually caught the ball--and right fielder Rubin got their signals crossed and collided on the play.

The Crimson added a lone run in the sixth, with Mary Sheehan driving Gia Barresi home from third on a grounder to shortstop.

And although the Falcons managed to score once in the top of the seventh--on a pair of walks, a single, and a sacrifice--Dickerman got Vicki Westover to ground into a 5-3 doubleplay, sealing the victory.

"Janet's not going to get five or six strikeouts a game," Wentzell said. "She knows she's got to rely on her defense--the kids made the plays, and it's nice to see her come through."

THE NOTEBOOK: Harvard is currently in the middle of a 10-game homestand. The Crimson has a contest tomorrow against Boston College and weekend Ivy twinbills with Brown and Yale...The batswomen dropped an extra-inning, 3-2 decision to the Eagles two weeks ago.