After a slightly disappointing start to the 2001 season, Harvard softball team (22-21, 11-3 Ivy) won its last six Ivy regular season games to tie Cornell (34-16, 11-3) for the Ivy League title. Unfortunately, only one team can represent the Ivy League in the NCAA Tournament, thus necessitating a best-of-three playoff this weekend to be held at Harvard's Soldiers Field.

The last time these two teams met, the Crimson split a doubleheader with the Big Red that put its season in jeopardy. Harvard defeated Cornell in the first game 7-3, but then went on to suffer a 2-1 loss in the second.

A huge factor in the second game was the pitching of Cornell star Nicole Zitarelli. Zitarelli started the season as the second-winningest pitcher in Big Red history. She added 15 wins to that record this season, including the second game against Harvard. During that start, the Crimson was only able to muster one run against her-and that one run was unearned.

In her senior year at Cornell, Zitarelli has used her incredible control to maintain a 1.72 ERA. In 142.1 innings, she has struck out 90 batters while only walking 35.

In the doubleheader earlier this year, Kristen Hricenak, Erin Sweeney and Melissa Cannon did the most damage at the plate for Cornell. Sweeney and Cannon each had multiple hit games, while Hricenak homered in the Crimson loss.

Sarah Sterman, the Big Red's second pitcher, will be a force to be reckoned with on the mound this weekend. Sterman has posted a 14-7 record and a 1.84 ERA this year, and will most likely start one of the games in Saturday's doubleheader.

Harvard was able to hit her last time, however, as she gave up seven runs in the April game.

In addition to strong pitching, the Big Red has some productive hitters who will force the Crimson pitching staff to be at its best this weekend. Cornell has eight batters hitting over .300. The top two power threats, Kate Varde and Allison Batten, have hit 13 and 10 home runs, respectively.