{shortcode-ab75c5222af85b17b8d67664f241339b57108bcc}

Despite coming out on top in game two to force a third game, Harvard (29-17, 16-4 Ivy League) fell to Princeton (23-26, 14-6) 8-3, giving the South Division Champion Tigers the Ivy League title after defeating the North Division Champion Crimson two games to one.

“Being in the Ivy Championship series is an honor and testament to the hard work our team put in over the past year,” co-captain Morgan Groom said. “Unfortunately things didn’t go the way we wanted them to, but I’m proud of the grit our team showed, not just this weekend but all season.”

Princeton 8, Harvard 3

The Tigers took command of the game early, scoring all of their runs in the second inning. Princeton’s Keeley Walsh set the standard for the inning with a leadoff double and was the first Tiger to score after a single by Marissa Reynolds. Despite going to the bullpen early after freshman Sarah Smith allowed three runs, junior Taylor Cabe was unable to slow the Tiger’s hot bats. Eight runs had crossed the plate by the time the team recorded its third out.

Harvard’s offense finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth, as freshman Meaghan Lantz walked to start the inning. A series of small-ball plays brought Lantz home —moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, third on a single, and home on a fielder’s choice.

The Crimson knocked in another two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Harvard was unable to rally for the win and Princeton took home the Ivy League title.

“We may not have won the championship but we did accomplish a lot of good things that we'll take into next year so we can win the championship,” Rich said. “It was a tough loss but this team showed a lot of grit, and I think this season we proved that we are a big force and we are looking forward to next season.”

Harvard 7, Princeton 1

The Crimson responded to the opening loss with strong bats. Harvard was leading Princeton 7-1 when in the bottom of the sixth the umpires called the game due to darkness. The game was scheduled to continue the next day Sunday May 8th at 3:30, but rain pushed the game back to Monday at noon.

“Delays demand additional focus from teams, and I felt we kept that focus,” Groom said.

Before the interruption, Kaplan, junior Giana Panariello, and co-captain Zoe Galindo recorded two hits apiece, with both of Panariello’s hits driving a runner home for a game-high two RBIs.

Junior Taylor Cabe started in the circle pitching two strikeouts and allowing five hits and one run over five innings. Smith relieved Cabe and closed the game with one strikeout and no hits.

The Crimson notched two hits and scored a run to start off the game, with Rich making it home after Lantz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Harvard scored two more runs in the third to put the Crimson up, 3-0.

Harvard increased its lead to 5-0 in the top of the fourth, as Galindo led off the inning with triple and Kaplan followed suit with a triple of her own to drive the Las Vegas, Nev. senior home. Kaplan then scored after a sacrifice fly by Rich.