If the scoring had been cumulative for the Harvard softball team's four weekend contests, it might have come out of its season opener on a more upbeat note. Despite outscoring its opponents 9-8, the Crimson finished with a 1-3 showing at the Kay Brechtelsbauer Southern Classic held in Carbondale, Ill.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY 1, HARVARD 0

The debut game in program history between the Crimson and Indiana University (5-8) on Sunday afternoon turned out to be a grueling seven-inning battle with both teams scoreless through six innings.

Co-captain Kara Brotemarkle pitched all seven innings against the Hoosiers, holding onto a shutout after six.

“She pitched an amazing game,” said co-captain second baseman Sara Williamson. “That was exciting to watch so early on.”

Six scoreless innings weren’t enough, however, when Indiana’s Lauren Hines opened the bottom of the seventh with a single to center field.

Pinch runner Megan Roark advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a double by Abby Stark, ending the Crimson shutout and a lackluster opening weekend.

INDIANA STATE 3, HARVARD 2

The Crimson found itself on the short end of a tight 3-2 game Sunday morning after beating up on the Sycamores (6-6) the day before.

Junior pitcher Lauren Bettinelli threw the first three innings, allowing two hits and giving up one earned run before sophomore Michelle McAteer took the mound. McAteer was also unable to stop Indiana State, surrendering three hits and two runs.

Harvard’s offensive duo of the weekend, freshman third baseman Virginia Fritsch and junior catcher Annie Dell'Aria—a transfer from Notre Dame—each cranked an RBI double in the effort, driving in Williamson both times.

“It just literally came down to the last inning, and we didn’t get the job done,” Williamson said. “We were up for the game, and we were playing well and doing things we needed to do. But in the end, we didn’t come through with any clutch hits or clutch defensive plays.”

HARVARD 7, INDIANA STATE 2

The high point for the tournament—and for the Crimson offense—was a 7-2 spanking of Indiana State Saturday afternoon. In only her second game in a Harvard uniform, Dell’Aria slugged a three-run homer in the fifth inning to put the Crimson on top.

“[Dell’Aria] really came out strong and set a new tone for herself and the team,” said Brotemarkle. “It’s fresh blood and gets everyone excited.”