The Harvard softball team continued to ride the wave of momentum generated by its six wins in its last seven games, dominating the University of Rhode Island throughout the first game of their doubleheader and falling just short in the second.

“I think we’ve been doing pretty well lately, and we’ve been pretty prepared,” sophomore left fielder Lauren Stefanchik said. “So we knew that coming into URI it was possible to pick up a win or two.”

But with three innings to go in game two, the wave reached its peak and came crashing down, leaving hopes of a Crimson sweep in its wake.

With the split decision against URI (15-20), Harvard (12-22, 4-4 Ivy) has won seven of its last nine.

Harvard 4, URI 0

The Crimson grabbed the lead early thanks to timely hitting and cunning on the base paths, coupled with three Ram miscues.

“It’s an immense help,” junior Kara Brotemarkle said. “Because [as a pitcher] you feel like they’re behind you and it takes the pressure off. Plus it creates the momentum.”

A single from junior shortstop Rachel Goldberg put Harvard in position to take the lead. Tri-captain Tiffany Whitton wasted no time bringing her home, singling to the outfield to score Goldberg, making the score 1-0 after the first.

A URI error-plagued second inning solidified the Crimson lead.

A walk followed by a balk put sophomore catcher Laura Miller on second with one out. An error by Rams’ third baseman Kim Custance put runners on the corners and Harvard took advantage of the favorable situation.

Freshman center fielder Cara Woodard stole second before Stefanchik—who went 3-4—singled to drive in Miller, with Woodard advancing to third on the play.

With runners on the corners again and still only one out, Stefanchik broke for second, leading to the Ram’s second error of the inning, allowing Woodard to bring home the third run of the game.

And that was more than enough offensive support for the Crimson pitching staff.

Brotemarkle turned in six dazzling innings, allowing no runs on four hits and allowing only two walks.

“I think that if I’m pitching well through the first couple of innings, it’s easier to build off that to get me through the next couple,” Brotemarkle said. “If I feel strong right off the bat, I usually feel strong throughout the game.”