On another weekend, a 3-1 record would have been a success for the Harvard softball team. This weekend, however, only the Crimson's one loss seems to matter.

Harvard (18-18, 8-2 Ivy) swept a doubleheader from Vermont (15-20) yesterday, 3-1 and 8-5, but split a twin bill with Ivy rival Cornell (33-7, 11-1), 2-0 and 3-1, on Saturday. The Big Red swept two games from Dartmouth (10-23, 2-8) yesterday by counts of 11-0 and 8-0 clinch its first-ever Ivy League title. CORNELL  0 HARVARD  2 CORNELL  3 HARVARD  1

The Crimson's lone loss of the weekend left it one game behind the Big Red in the Ivy standings, and Cornell sealed the deal with its victories over Dartmouth. Harvard had been chasing its second consecutive Ivy championship.

"It's disappointing," said Harvard Coach Jenny Allard. "We were swinging our bats, we were hitting the ball hard. They played good defense, and we didn't capitalize on some opportunities that we did have. They came out and played hard." HARVARD  3 VERMONT  1 HARVARD  8 VERMONT  5

Despite the disappointment of the weekend, Harvard remains second in the standings with two Ivy contests remaining.

Harvard co-captain Deborah Abeles had a phenomenal weekend at the plate, going 9-for-13 with three RBI and smacking her team-leading fourth home run of the season. Abeles numbers helped her increase her average by 36 points; the junior shortstop is now batting .430.

Junior Ghia Godfree added some pop at the plate with a 7-for-13, two-RBI weekend. Sophomore Chelsea Thoke and freshmen Suzanne Guy and Julie Schwab each picked up a victory for the Crimson.

Harvard 8, Vermont 5

The Crimson wasted no time jumping in front of the Catamounts in yesterday's nightcap. Harvard scored three runs in the first inning to open up a lead it would not relinquish.

Harvard added one run in the third, two in the fourth and another pair in the fifth to keep the pressure on Vermont. The Catamounts did manage a couple of runs in the third, two more in the fifth and one in the bottom of the seventh before Schwab (2-2) shut the door.

The Crimsons' bats were alive as Harvard amassed 12 hits against losing pitch- before Schwab (2-2) shut the door.

The Crimson's bats were alive as Harvardamassed 12 hits against losing pitcher Cheri Toms(9-8). Godfree and freshman Sarah Koppel ledHarvard at the plate. Godfree went 3-for-4 withtwo RBI and Koppel had a 2-for-4 day with threeruns scored and one RBI.

The Catamounts actually outfit theCrimson--Vermont tallied 13 hits in the game--butfour errors did them in.

Schwab went the distance to pick up the win.Harvard co-captain Terri Teller went 2-for-4 withone run scored, and senior Tara LaSovage had thegame's only triple.

Harvard 3, Vermont 1

The first game was knotted, 1-1, when Abelesstepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.As she has done so often in her stellar career,Abeles lifted her team to victory by stroking aJaime Bergin offering over the 230-foot sign indead center field.

The Crimson jumped out to a 1-0 lead onTeller's RBI single in the first. The Catamountsresponded with one in the fourth when sophomoreAmanda Surgen broke up Guy's no-hitter with an RBIsingle that plated Erin Barney.

The score remained tied at 1-1 until Abelesbroke the deadlock.