Big Green Falter in Series Finale Against Harvard

Sunday, April 9

Hanover, N.H.

12:30 PM

Dartmouth College

9-16, 4-5

Harvard

18-10-1, 9-3

Harvard

Dartmouth

Photo by: Doug Austin

Big Green Falter in Series Finale Against Harvard

4/9/2023 4:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Dartmouth could not overcome a six-run deficit, falling by a score of 6-2

By: Francis Forte

HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth softball team faltered in its final game of a three-contest series against Harvard on Sunday. The Big Green were unable to overcome a six-run lead late in the game, dropping the Ivy League series to the Crimson in the decisive game by a score of 6-2.

The Big Green struggled to hit the ball, recording just a pair of hits throughout the contest. Harvard recorded runs in five straight innings to gather a lead Dartmouth was unable to overcome. A pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth would not be enough to mount a comeback.

Rachel McCarroll and Izzy Kam saw time in the circle in the series finale. Lauren Ben-Ezra and Jenna Brown recorded runs for the Big Green.

How it happened:
Allison Heffley recorded the first hit of the afternoon, as she plopped a ball into left field for a stand-up double with two outs. The Big Green forced a groundout to escape the top of the first unscathed. Mary Beth Cahalan recorded her own two-out double in the bottom of the inning, but she was left stranded as the game remained scoreless.

The Crimson jumped out to an early lead, as a single and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position. A two-out double from Megan Welsh drove in the opening run of the afternoon. Harvard looked to extend the lead, as a runner broke for home following a single to left field. Alaana Panu gunned the runner down to close the top of the second.

With two away, Heffley recorded her second double of the day, which was followed by another double to drive her in. An RBI-single from Finley Payne brought in the Crimson's third run of the day, as Harvard took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the third.

Harvard extended its lead in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly, which was followed by a one, two, three inning from Dartmouth in the bottom of the frame. Another sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth extended the lead to five runs.

An RBI single in the top of the sixth gave the Crimson a commanding six-run lead. Brown opened the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle and was advanced to second after Ben-Ezra earned a walk. A flyout moved the runners up one base with two away.

A throwing error from Harvard's third baseman allowed the Big Green to bring in both runners to chip into the Crimson advantage. Dartmouth was unable to complete the comeback in the bottom of the seventh, falling to 9-16 on the year and 4-5 in conference play. Harvard improved to 18-10-1 and 9-3 in the Ancient Eight.

Up Next:
The Big Green travel to Providence, Rhode Island for an Ivy League series against Brown. Dartmouth opens the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 15 starting at 12:30 p.m. before closing the series the following day at 12:30 p.m. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+ and Stretch Internet internationally.