Freshman Sara Williamson became the newest hero for the women's softball team Tuesday, driving in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning against Boston University (28-12, 15-3 America East) for a 5-4 victory, and the Crimson's fifth in a row.
The win ended BU's 18-game winning streak and gave Harvard (19-18, 9-3 Ivy) much-needed momentum going into this weekend's key Ivy contest against Dartmouth.
Entering the final inning Harvard had only managed three runs (one earned) off a stellar Terrier pitching squad and was down 4-3. First up in the bottom of the inning was freshman third baseman Breanne Cooley, who managed to bounce a single over the third base line.
The next batter, freshman center fielder Kim Koral, dropped a ground ball down the third base line. Terrier third baseman Aryn Rangel charged hard but had no chance, and Koral sailed into first with an infield hit.
Sophomore hitting sensation Tiffany Whitton, who went 4-for-4 on the day, stepped up to the plate. She jumped on Robyn Horrick's easy offering and knocked the ball off the left-field wall. Sophomore pinch runner Grace Bloodwell, who had come in for Cooley, scored easily on the play and Koral held up at third on Whitton's game-tying double.
After a fielder's choice held the runners, Williamson came in to complete the Crimson rally, despite being hitless in three previous at-bats. Harvard Coach Jenny Allard chose to keep Williamson in, and she promptly took Horrick deep again into left field. Koral ambled in and touched home for the win.
"Coming from behind and winning in the last inning gave us a big mental push," Allard said. "We feel like we're playing good, consistent softball."
The game had looked early on like it might turn into a slugfest. Harvard struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Cooley and Koral started the inning with consecutive singles off Terrier starter Tiffany Finateri. Whitton then doubled off the left-field wall to score Cooley and the Crimson was up 1-0.
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