Due to the challenge the Big Red poses at the plate, pitch selection will be crucial. In order to beat the Big Red, Harvard plans to go at batters with the changeup.

"Cornell hitters are constantly looking for the fast pitch," said senior pitcher Chelsea Thoke.

Additionally, the lack of offensive production in the game against Zitarelli in April has to be rectified this weekend. In total, Zitarelli only gave up five hits in her previous start against Harvard.

The overall Crimson mindset will not be any different coming into the play-in series than it was the first time the two teams met.

"We are going to come out the same way," Thoke said. "We played well the first time, we just didn't get many runs."

In this game, Thoke and her teammates hope to simply focus on the pitches that the players want to, and can, hit. The Crimson needs to do everything it can to stay on top of Cornell's dangerous pitching squad.

It is not yet known who will start the games for the Crimson, but Thoke will most likely start one of the games on Saturday. Thoke and Zitarelli have not faced each other head-to-head this season, but it will be interesting to see if the Big Red use its ace against Harvard's.