Parker plated Gonski with a bunt single, and Courtney Herr rounded out the scoring with a two-run single to center that chased Koppel. Freshman Julie Schwab came on in relief and retired both batters she faced.
Fatigue may have been a factor for the Crimson, which was coming off consecutive doubleheader sweeps of Ivy League foes Yale and Brown last Saturday and Sunday. Harvard's players looked sluggish at the plate and a step slow to balls in the field.
"Our overall performance was a drained performance," Abeles said. "We're trying to fight a decrease in energy."
Notes
The road gets no easier for Harvard or for its bats. The Crimson will travel to Amherst tomorrow for a doubleheader versus No. 21 UMass, and the Minutewomen are likely to throw senior ace Danielle Henderson in at least one game. Henderson is in the top-20 on the NCAA career strikeouts list, and threw her 10th career no-hitter April 1 against Vermont.