One needs good pitching, fielding and hitting to win in softball.

Harvard executed well in the first two categories yesterday against Boston University, but it was the hitting that let the team down in its hard-fought 2-1 loss.

The positive notes were that fielding and pitching for Harvard were solid and that Harvard was the first team to score against B.U. in its last eight games.

But the Terriers (18-7) came away with the victory because they limited the Crimson (10-8, 3-1 Ivy) to two hits on the afternoon and scored runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.

"It's definitely disappointing, but I think we played together today," said sophomore Melissa Kreuder, who drove in Harvard's only run with a double in the fourth. "Our bats just didn't come out today."

B.U.'s two pitchers confronted the Harvard batters with something they haven't really seen this year--the riseball.

The Terriers had good movement and good speed with their pitches, and it was the riser that continually got the Crimson off-balance.

In fact, eight of Harvard's first nine hitters in the game struck out against B.U.'s Tiana Hejduk. Freshman Kara Hartl was the lone exception, as she collected a two-out double in the first, but she was stranded.

"I think we swung not to hit a riseball, and anytime you're scared, you're not going to hit well," Harvard coach Jenny Allard said.

A little bad luck also hurt Harvard. In the bottom of the fifth, with Harvard still ahead 1-0, Harvard attempted a squeeze play.

Freshman Jenny Franzese dropped a good bunt down the third-base line, and junior Sue Traub beat the throw to the plate. However, B.U. catcher Elaine Schwager blocked the plate and applied the tag for the out.

It was a tough break, and the Terriers tied the game in the next inning. If Hejduk wasn't hurting the Crimson with her pitching, she certainly delivered the big blow at the plate, homering with two outs off freshman Heather Brown to tie the game.

"That home run took a lot away from us," junior Amy Reinhard said. "It's just that we didn't go right after them and try to get it back."

Harvard put the go-ahead run at second with two outs, but pitcher Audrey West and her riseball--who started the sixth inning--froze Reinhard at the plate for a called third strike.

For the game, Harvard was 1-4 with runners in scoring position--the lone execution coming on Kreuder's double.