Harvard 2, Cornell 1

With the lowly Quakers out of the way, Harvard focused its attention on its chief rival for the league crown, Cornell. The Crimson needed a split with the Big Red to secure at least a share of the title.

But in would be on easy task, as Cornell threw two-time Ivy League Pitcher of the Week Julie Westbrock at Harvard in the opener. Westbrock was riding a 14-game winning streak entering the contest.

Harvard wasted no time taking it at Westbrock, as LaSovage maintained her offensive onslaught with a first-inning lead-off triple into right. LaSovage scored the first run of the game three batters later when junior catcher Terri Teller rifled a single into leftfield.

The score remained 1-0 until the third inning when sophomore sensation Deborah Abeles crushed a Westbrock pitch over the rightfield fence for a lead-off round-tripper, her Ivy League-leading ninth of the season. Last week Abeles broke the Harvard career home run record with a blast against Boston College.

Behind another outstanding day on the mound from Thoke, Harvard kept the Big Red's bats at bay until the bottom of the seventh. Cornell's Jamie LoCaslio scored on a fielder's choice to Godfree by Wendy Fiel.

But Thoke struck out Stephanie Riggins--her 11th "K"--to end the affair and Westbrock's string. LaSovage finished the game 2-for-3, including a double and a triple, with one run scored.

Harvard 10, Cornell 0

The Crimson must have been frustrated by its lack of run production in the first game, because the nightcap witnessed an offensive explosion by Harvard. Couple the hot bats with typical defensive prowess, and you have Harvard in a runaway.

Harvard's tear began in the third inning when the Crimson sent eight players to the plate. Godfree led off with a walk, moved to second on a LaSovage single to left and advanced to third when Rice drew a walk to juice the bags.

Abeles then launched a sacrifice to center that scored Godfree, and Teller ripped a double down the leftfield line to plate LaSovage and Rice. Harvard would need no more, but the Crimson added four runs in the fifth and three in the sixth before Cupp struck out the last two batters she faced in the bottom of the sixth to invoke the mercy rule and end the contest one inning early.

Abeles had a perfect game at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI. LaSovage, Teller and senior Hillary Read had two RBI, LaSovage scoring twice and Read crossing the plate once.

Senior Mandy Wills went 1-for-1 and drove in a pair on a two-RBI single in the fifth. Cupp added another RBI to her weekend offensive total, and she struck out 11 en route to a brilliant three-hit shutout.

Notes

Cupp and Thoke continue to anchor the Ivy League's top pitching staff. This weekend's performances lower Cupp's ERA to 2.07 and increase her career strikeout total to 459. Thoke leads the Ivy League in strikeouts this year with 140 Ks in 124 and one-third innings.