The Harvard softball team travelled south this weekend to open its season against tough competition in Fort Meyers, Florida.

Florida Gulf Coast 3, Harvard 1

In its final game of the weekend, the Crimson stayed close with the Eagles, but could not convert.

“It’s always tough not playing for six months and then playing some really good teams, but I think we found our stride as a team and [can] only progress from here,” junior infielder Emily Gusse said. “We played two really good teams in Florida Golf Coast and Arkansas, and we had a really good shot at winning both.”

Both teams were able to score in their opening looks at the plate, but Harvard’s bats went quiet after that, with four hits scattered over the next six innings.

Florida Gulf Coast crossed the plate twice in the bottom of the fifth to solidify the victory.

Junior pitcher Laura Ricciardone threw for the Crimson, giving up five hits, walking four, and striking out four.

Arkansas 9, Harvard 4

Facing a strong SEC team was too much for the Crimson to handle as the team dropped its first game on Sunday to the Razorbacks.

Freshman pitcher Taylor Cabe got the start for Harvard and held Arkansas to four runs over the first five innings but then surrendered five in the bottom of the sixth inning.

“Taylor’s great, she’s going to have an awesome career here,” Gusse said. “She has grit. She got the start and the complete game against Arkansas, who’s a crazy tough team to pitch because they have some huge girls who can hit the ball a long way.”

The Crimson’s offense came out strong in the first couple innings, scoring three runs in the first and one in the second. Those proved to be their only runs of the game as the team was held scoreless for the remainder of the matchup.

Harvard 7, North Dakota 4

The Crimson was able to look to its offense for Saturday’s victory against North Dakota.

Harvard recorded 10 hits in the game, half of which were for extra bases.