Thoke, after winning two games that afternoon, gave way to freshman Kara Brotemarkle--who pitched a complete-game shutout. Home runs by Whitton and Koppel provided all the offense Harvard would need in the 3-0 win.

The next morning Harvard defeated second-seeded Stetson 6-3 on the strength of another complete game, nine-strikeout outing from Thoke. The Crimson went up 4-0 in the third on RBI singles from Whitton and Koppel and never looked back.

Immediately following the win over Stetson, Harvard defeated Illinois, 3-2, in the semifinals. Whitton proved durable enough to hold the Illini to two runs in five innings, while Brotemarkle shut them down in relief.

All the Crimson offense came from solo homeruns--a leadoff shot from freshman shortstop Sara Williamson, a game-tying blast from Sarah Koppel in the sixth, and the game-winner from another freshman, first-baseman Breeanne Cooley, in the seventh.

Harvard faced a familiar foe in the Buzz Classic championship game--No. 3 California. It was their third meeting already this season.

"They're a good team," Koppel said. "Whenever we play them, we just go in there and try to do our best. We've played strong with them."

California brought out its ace, Jocelyn Forest, who boasts a 0.27 ERA on the season. Harvard kept the score tied for two innings and close for four, but the Golden Bears put the game away with five runs in the fifth for the 8-0 mercy-rule ending.