The last time the Holy Cross softball team visited Soldiers Field was for last year's NCAA best-of-three play-in series versus Harvard. The Crimson handily swept that series to end the Crusaders' season.

If Holy Cross was looking for revenge yesterday, its search went astray. Defending Ivy League champion Harvard (6-11) opened its home season with a convincing doubleheader sweep of Holy Cross (11-11). The Crimson took the first game 8-0, forcing the mercy rule into effect after the sixth inning, and used a four-run fifth inning to win the second, 7-5.

"It's definitely a confidence booster to come back to our home field and show what we're capable of," said co-captain Terri Teller.

Harvard's offense was led by Teller and co-captain Deborah Abeles along with sophomore catcher Mairead McKendry. Teller maintained her hot stick from the Crimson's West Coast spring break swing, going 3-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored.

Abeles had a 2-for-6 afternoon on a pair of doubles with two RBI and four runs scored. McKendry went 4-for-6 on the day with three RBI and Harvard's only home run.

Sophomore hurler Chelsea Thoke (4-6) picked up both victories, striking out 12 batters in eight innings of work.

Harvard 7, Holy Cross 5

The Crimson wasted no time getting on the board in the second game of the double dip. In the bottom of the first, junior centerfielder Jessie Amberg sent a towering shot into rightfield that fell just short of the fence and ended up as a double.

Two batters later, Teller looped a Texas leaguer over second base that plated Amberg, and Teller took second when Holy Cross pitcher Genoa Grosch failed to cut off the throw to the plate. Teller scored Harvard's second run when freshman utility player Sarah Koppel roped a double off the leftfield fence.