Harvard wasted no time proving its power at the plate. In the bottom of the first, Kerper blasted a three-run homer over the fence in centerfield to make it 3-0. The Bobcats ended the Crimson threat by recording two quick outs, but Harvard held them scoreless through the top of the second inning and came back full force in the bottom half.

Senior Beth Sabin led off the frame with a homer to right. Brown walked and Stefanchik reached first on an error, bumping Brown to third. Stefanchik pulled off her first of three steals on the day, swiping second right before Kidderlaunched a homer over the right-field fence—the first homer of her collegiate career.

Qunnipiac reliever Kim Norman kept the Crimson scoreless in the third and fourth innings before Shaughnessy plated Winkeller with the game-winner in the fifth.

The only real threat to Harvard freshman starter Amanda Watkins’s shutout came in the top of the fifth inning.

Brandi Simon hit a lead-off double, but catcher Annie Dell’Aria made a nice catch behind the plate on a botched sacrifice attempt by Jill Viglione. However, the next two batters got on to load the bases.

Watkins showed surprising maturity in getting out of the jam.

“Everyone was feeling good at that point and we still felt that we had control of the game,” she said.

Her confidence paid off as she struck out the next batter and forced the following hitter to pop out. Watkins, after notching her second win of the season, was happy with the team’s performance.

“I have high expectations for the Ivy season,” Watkins said. “We’ve played a lot of tough teams and we are not going to be intimidated.”

The victory was Crimson coach Jenny Allard’s 250th at the helm of the team.