Dartmouth Splits Twin Bill Against Harvard

Saturday, April 8

Hanover, N.H.

12:30 PM

Dartmouth College

9-14, 4-3

Harvard

16-10-1, 7-3

Harvard

Dartmouth

Photo by: Doug Austin

4/8/2023 5:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (Game 1) (PDF)Box Score (Game 2) (PDF)

Maria Angelino opened the series with a walk-off RBI single to give Dartmouth a win in game one

By: Francis Forte

HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth softball team split a twin bill against Harvard to open a home Ivy League series on Saturday. The Big Green walked-off in the eighth inning to open the day with a 2-1 victory, before the Crimson responded with a 10-4 win to close the doubleheader.

Maria Angelino lifted the Big Green (9-15, 4-4 Ivy League) to victory with a walk-off RBI single in extra innings. Her heroics led Dartmouth to its first win over Harvard in Hanover since May 3, 2016. Rachel McCarroll and Izzy Kam allowed just one combined run in a strong defensive effort from the Big Green.

Harvard (17-10-1, 8-3 Ivy League) evened the series with a win in the second game of the day, fueled by an explosive first inning. The Crimson tacked on eight runs in the first frame, which Dartmouth was unable to overcome, falling to .500 in Ivy League play.

Game One: Dartmouth 2, Harvard 1 (8 inn.)
Harvard recorded the first hit of the twin bill in the top of the opening frame, as the Crimson put a runner on first with an infield hit. McCarroll shut the door, as she recorded two strikeouts, including one to close the half inning.

Mary Beth Cahalan battled deep into a full count to earn a walk with two outs in the bottom of the first. The Big Green could not advance her position, as the game remained scoreless after one.

The Crimson opened the second with a single just out of the reach of Kate Farren at shortstop with one out. A sacrifice bunt moved a runner into scoring position with two away. For the second straight inning, Dartmouth kept the Crimson off the board, stranding the runner at second.

Kelly Beaupre led off the bottom of the second with a double to right field, which served as Dartmouth's first hit of the day. Dartmouth was unable to capitalize, as Riley Flynn struck two batters out, and a foul out closed the inning.

Harvard placed a runner on third with one away following a double and a sacrifice bunt in the top of the fourth. The Crimson seemed to drive in the first run of the day, but an outstanding diving effort from Alaana Panu in left field held the runner at third. A routine flyout to Panu closed the half inning and kept the game scoreless.

Panu was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the fourth, advancing her to first with one out on the board. Beaupre won a nine-pitch battle against Flynn to earn a walk and place runners on first and second. A flyout advanced Panu to third with two away. Dartmouth left runners stranded at the corners, as a strikeout from Flynn closed the frame.

Harvard when three up, three down in the top of the sixth. Dartmouth placed runners on first and second following a walk and a hit-by-pitch, which chased Flynn from the circle. She was replaced by Anna Reed with one out on the board.

Allie Ohde loaded the bases with two away with an in-field single. Angelino was unable to snap the scoreless tie, as Reed escaped the inning by striking out Dartmouth's third baseman.

The Crimson placed a runner on second with none away following a single and a stolen base. A walk, followed by a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out. McCarroll and defense held strong, as a strikeout and a flyout retired the side.

A pair of singles opened the top of the eighth. Kam took over for McCarroll in the circle with two runners on and none away. A sacrifice bunt advances the runners to second and third, and a grounder to Kam drove in the first run of the day. The inning ended following an excellent catch from Farren. The Crimson took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth.

Panu came up large for Dartmouth in the bottom of the eighth with a double that placed runners on second and third with one out. A single from Ohde brought in the tying run and moved the winning run to third. Angelino followed Ohde with a single to bring Panu home and clinch the game for the Big Green.

Dartmouth improved to 9-14 on the year and earned its fourth walk-off win at home in as many games. Harvard's five-game win streak was halted by the Big Green, as the Crimson fell to 16-10-1.

Game Two: Harvard 10, Dartmouth 4
Harvard opened the second game of the day with an offensive outburst, as the Crimson scored seven runs in the top of the first. Dartmouth committed two errors in the opening inning, which Harvard capitalized on to take a commanding lead into the bottom of the frame.

Dartmouth placed runners on first and second to lead off the bottom of the inning. Ashley Frantz led off with a single, and Lauren Ben-Ezra was hit by a pitch with no outs on the board. Cahalan chipped into Harvard's lead in the bottom of the inning, as she recorded a three-RBI home run to right center field.

The Crimson extended their lead in the top of the second, as an RBI single lifted Harvard to a 8-3 advantage. The Big Green looked to respond in the bottom of the third but left two runners stranded as the deficit remained stagnant.

The game settled into a defensive effort in the middle portions of the contest, as the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings saw just three combined hits.

Harvard brought in a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to take a commanding seven-run lead on the Big Green. Dartmouth responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning, but could not mount a rally.

Dartmouth fell to 9-15 with a 4-4 mark in conference play, which Harvard improved to 8-3 in the Ancient Eight to keep up in the race for first in the league.

Up Next:
The Big Green look to claim the series against Harvard with the final contest set for tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. The game, which is presented by Milton CAT, will be streamed on ESPN+ and Stretch Internet internationally. Admission at the Dartmouth Softball Park is free.