Columbia’s starter, freshman Madison Canby, stymied the Crimson offense in a complete-game victory, her sixth of the season. Canby spread four hits over seven innings and punched out two.

“Columbia’s pitcher did a good job of hitting her spots and keeping the ball on the corners of the plate,” Rich said. “However, we had a lot of good at bats where we hit the ball hard, but we kept hitting them right to players. So [the] stats don't really show what we did well against her, but that's the game.”

In the top of the seventh, freshman first baseman Olivia Giaquinto smacked the first home run of her short career to spoil Canby’s shutout bid.

Duncan started her second game in a row after defeating Penn on Saturday. The sophomore held the Lions to two runs in 4.2 innings, but Harvard was unable to figure out Canby and provide Duncan sufficient run support.

HARVARD 2, PENN 1

In the second contest of the Saturday twin bill against the Quakers, the Crimson claimed its first Ancient Eight win of the season.

For the second time in two games, Harvard scored all its runs in the top of the first. Kaplan got the ball rolling with a double to left field, but she was cut down on the ensuing fielder’s choice by second-year third baseman Erin Lockhart. Back-to-back doubles from Schiffhauer and Shively brought in two runs.

Shively repeated her performance from the first game of the day, again going one-for-three with two runs batted in. This time, these two runs made all the difference in the outcome, as Duncan shut down Penn’s offense.

“Elizabeth and Katie played incredibly for us this weekend,” Schiffhauer said. “Elizabeth came up for us in a lot of clutch situations and came through every time, especially in our win.”

Duncan went the distance without allowing an earned run. The Allendale, N.J. native did not strike out any Quakers but only gave up four hits and a walk.

“Katie has been stepping up consistently for our team throughout the year, and we have to provide her with the run support she needs because she deserved two wins this weekend,” Schiffhauer added.

Penn’s lone run came on a three-base error and a subsequent single in the bottom of the sixth. With a runner on first, the Quakers threatened to tie the game at two, as senior first baseman Alexis Sargent smacked a double into right field. However, Kaplan’s throw caught Penn’s Jurie Joyner between second and third, and she was eventually tagged out to end the inning.

After the first inning doubles barrage, the Crimson only recorded one more hit in the game, a base knock by Giaquinto.

PENN 5, HARVARD 4

Harvard kicked off its 2017 Ivy League slate with a one-run loss to Penn in Philadelphia.