Here are the facts: the UMass softball team had a 0.96 ERA, the fifth best in the nation, going into yesterday's double-header with Harvard. Minutewomen pitcher Danielle Henderson had struck out double-digit batters in 15 consecutive games and had gone 117 straight innings without allowing an earned run. The Harvard softball team was averaging only four runs per game. HARVARD  2 UMASS  3 HARVARD  0 UMASS  2

Those are the facts, and the results were no better for the Crimson. Harvard (20-19,4-0 Ivy) was swept by UMass (27-12), 3-2 and 2-0, in Amherst. Henderson (16-6) improved her streaks to 16 games with double-digit strikeouts and 122 innings without allowing an earned run, although the Crimson did manage to snap the latter in the sixth frame of the first game.

"We knew going in [Henderson] was very, very good," sophomore Deborah Abeles said. "Other than Fresno State's pitchers, she's the best we've faced this season."

Offensively, the Minutewomen were led by senior Tracey Osier, who was a combined 4-for-6 on the day and stole three bases. The three steals broke her own single-season school record of 24.

As both scores indicate, Harvard managed to keep both games close, but the Crimson was unable to pull out a victory, and its six-game winning streak ended. Senior Tasha Cupp (10-4) threw a complete game in the opener, giving up seven hits and striking out two in six innings.

UMass 3, Harvard 2

The first game was scoreless until the fourth, when senior Kim Gutridge led off with a double into right-centerfield off Cupp. Junior Katie Kenderski pinch-ran for Gutridge, moved to third on a sacrifice and scored the first run of the game on a fielder's choice by senior Kelly Buckley.

Buckley scored later on a two-out double into left-center by sophomore Nikki Faessler. But the eventual game-winner did not come until one inning later, when junior Mandy Galas doubled to left and scored on a groundout by Gutridge.

But Harvard refused to go down quietly. The Crimson mounted a rally in the sixth that would come up just one run shy of tying the game.

Junior Karen Rice, who was the only Harvard player to have a multiple-hit game on the day, led off the inning with a double to right. Abeles followed with her best copycat performance of Rice's effort, smacking a double to the center field fence to plate Rice and snap Henderson's string.

Senior co-captain Jenny Franzese moved Abeles to third on a single to put runners on the corners. Abeles would later score Harvard's second run on a passed ball.

Despite having Franzese at second with no outs, the Crimson failed to drive in the equalizer. Henderson finished with 13 strikeouts in the game and surrendered only four hits and four walks.

UMass 2, Harvard 0

Senior Heather Brown (1-6) gave up 10 hits in the nightcap, but she allowed the Minutewomen just one earned run and kept Harvard in the ball game for the duration. The Crimson, however, could muster only three hits and failed to get on the scoreboard against UMass freshman Carrie Jeffries (8-5).

"We just didn't hit the ball in the second game," Abeles said. "Batting is about making adjustments, and we weren't doing it against [Jeffries]."

UMass scored quickly in game two, as Buckley drove in Osier with a single to center. Osier had reached on a bunt single, stolen second and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Gutridge. She would also score the Minutewomen's second run in the fifth.

"UMass has played a lot of ranked teams very close," Abeles said. "They are definitely the best team we've played from the East Coast, but some weird things happened with the umpiring, and we gave up runs we shouldn't have."

Despite the tough losses to a strong UMass team, Harvard is not disappointed. The Crimson feels that yesterday's games readied them for tomorrow's matchup against Princeton, which boasts one of the best staffs in the Ivy League.

"I'm not disappointed with the out-come," Abeles said. "This was good preparation for this weekend."

With two close losses behind it, Harvard hopes to capitalize on the lessons it learned as it tries to preserve its undefeated Ivy League mark in two critical conference games against Princeton.

UMass, 3-2 at Amherst           R  H  E Harvard  000  002  0  --  2  40 UMass  000  210  X  --  3  71

HR: None. 2B: Harvard--Abeles, Rice; UMass--Galas, Gutridge, Faessler. E: UMass--Brown.

WP: Danielle Henderson (16-6); LP: Cupp (10-4)

UMass, 2-0 at Amherst   R  H  E Harvard  000  000  0  --  0  32 UMass  100  010  X  --  2  100

HR: None. 2B: UMass--Faessler. E: Harvard--Abeles, Godfree.

WP: Carrie Jeffries (8-5); LP: Heather Brown (1-6)