The Harvard softball team posted a 3-9 record over spring break to push its overall mark to 4-14. That’s a reversal from a year ago when the team was 12-4 by the end of break and lost just 10 games all season. But the poor pre-Ivy record does not necessarily portend bad times to come. In fact, it could mean just the opposite.

The underlying cause of the contrasting starts is strength of schedule. Last year’s opposition was relatively weak, and wins over Patriot League foes like Lafayette did not help much come Ivy season. The Crimson posted its best record ever in 2002, but it also went without a share of the Ivy title for the first time since 1999.

“This year we faced much tougher competition and it was great to be challenged by very competitive teams,” said Harvard coach Jenny Allard. “Last year we were not challenged enough in our pre-season.”

Harvard starts league action with a home doubleheader against Dartmouth on Sunday. A doubleheader today against Holy Cross, a game Thursday against BC and a doubleheader Saturday against Maine will be the Crimson’s last opportunities to work out its kinks.

“This team will be ready by the end of the week,” Allard said. “We need to continue to gain momentum and have strong consistent performances.”

The team’s record is its worst since 2000, when the team started 4-15. That is also the last year Harvard made the NCAA tournament. But whether this team can learn as much from its pre-Ivy play remains to be seen.

“We'll use this week to put any missing pieces together, and I think the team will come out strong and ready when Ivies start,” said junior tri-captain Kara Brotemarkle.

Over break, Harvard most recently split a home doubleheader with BU on Saturday. Earlier in the week, the Crimson got swept in doubleheaders against Tennessee-Chattanooga and Georgia Tech, but split with Georgia State. In the first weekend of break, the Crimson went 1-3 at the Buzz Classic.

Assistant coach Terri Teller was in charge of the team for the four doubleheaders after the Buzz Classic. On March 24, Allard flew home to be with her partner who delivered a healthy baby boy.

Of the teams Harvard faced, Georgia Tech was the most distinguished, having been one victory away from making the College World Series last year. The Crimson started strong with 2-0 leads in both games, but could not hold on. Harvard also held a lead against Georgia Tech last season before faltering.

For the break, tri-captain Tiffany Whitton and sophomore catcher Laura Miller were the offensive leaders for the Crimson, which has struggled to a .232 average against tough pitching thus far. Miller’s .350 average leads the team, while Whitton is right behind at .340. Sophomore Beth Sabin leads the Crimson with 12 RBI.

BU Split

Harvard split its first home doubleheader of the season against BU, falling 8-3 in the first game but bouncing back 3-1 in the second. Harvard had won single games against BU each of the past two seasons.

“I think we could have taken two from them, but we did some good things in both games,” Brotemarkle said. “We need to focus on coming out hard for both games.”

On the strength of Brotemarkle’s pitching, Harvard led 2-1 after four innings. But BU touched up sophomore Lauren Tanner and freshman Michele McAteer for five runs in the fifth and held on for the 8-3 win.