The second weekend of spring break proved to be less than perfect for the Harvard softball team, as it traveled to Southern California for the San Diego Classic II.

After losing its first four games, the Crimson (8-8) was finally able to pull out a win with a stellar performance from junior pitcher Rachel Brown in the weekend finale.

The team remains optimistic about its chances in its next few games as it heads back to the East Coast.

“I think we were in a lot of tight games,” Harvard coach Jenny Allard said. “We played against a lot of tough teams, but we were in all the games.”

HARVARD 1, SAN DIEGO 0

On Saturday, the Crimson battled San Diego (8-11) in a pitching duel between Brown and Toreros freshman pitcher Cassidy Coleman.

Brown held San Diego to one hit while recording 15 strikeouts. She would have completed the no-hitter, but Toreros freshman left fielder Dana Prelsnik was able to tag an infield single in the final inning.

“We had terrific pitching from Rachel Brown,” Allard said. “I thought she did a really great job. She worked well with her catcher [sophomore Mariel Sena], and the two of them were terrific as a battery today.”

A timely double by junior infielder Mari Zumbro in the second inning gave the Crimson its lone run, and its fielders did their part to keep the San Diego offense in check.

“We played flawless defense today,” Brown said. “Honestly, we were tired of losing. We were hungry to win.”

OHIO STATE 4, HARVARD 1

In the second game on Friday, Brown held Ohio State (7-16) scoreless through four innings, but late offense from the Buckeyes gave them the three-run victory.

In the fifth, Crimson junior infielder Jane Alexander hit a double to left center, and freshman infielder Kasey Lange followed later in the frame with a double of her own, scoring Alexander and putting Harvard up, 1-0.

But the Crimson could not muster any more offense, and the Buckeyes broke through and scored two runs each in the fifth and the sixth inning.

Harvard left six runners on base, and the offense managed only five hits.