The Cornell Big Red played flawless softball on Saturday, beating Harvard 5-3 and 3-2 in a doubleheader to decide which school would represent the Ivy League in the NCAA tournament.

Harvard (22-23, 11-3 Ivy) had split a doubleheader with Cornell (34-16, 11-3) earlier in the season, but lost the best-of-three contest to the Ivy League co-champions.

Despite the rough ending, the Crismon's season closed in a fitting way, as senior team leaders Jen Vogt-Lowell, Mairead McKendry, and Chelsea Thoke walked out to center field in Harvard uniforms for the last time.

The three have won three Ivy titles in four years, including a share of the crown with the Big Red this year.

"We were out there being nostalgic a little," said McKendry. "It was so hard to believe that it was our last game and this would be our last time on the field."

Cornell 3, Harvard 2

After winning the first game at Soldiers Field, Cornell was able to ride the momentum into the second contest. The Big Red took advantage early, plating a run in the first inning.

The Crimson failed to capitalize on a good scoring opportunity, stranding freshman third baseman Breanne Cooley at second with no outs.

Cornell quickly got to Crimson starter Kara Brotemarkle.

The freshman had the bad luck of seeing a batted ball skip off of her glove and hit her in the face. She walked off the field under her own power, but Harvard was forced to bring in Thoke, who had pitched two innings of relief in the first game.

Cornell continued to hit Thoke well, manufacturing a run by playing small ball.

Freshman outfielder Erin Sweeney, who reached on the ball that struck Brotemarkle, was sacrificed to second by left fielder Melissa Cannon.

Sweeney moved to third, and came home on first baseman Kristen Hricenak's sacrifice fly.

With a 1-0 lead, Cornell starter Nicole Zitarelli went to work.

The senior hurler was third in the Ivy League with a 1.58 ERA, and had beaten the Crimson earlier in the year in a complete game victory.