Softball Team off to Fast Start

On Tuesday the Harvard women's softball team proved that it had not been spoiled by the warmth of spring-break sun in Florida.

Despite the chilly rain in Providence, R.I., the women defeated Providence in both games of a double header, taking the first game, 8-2, and the second, 4-1.

Returning from an unsuccessful season last spring, the women were very encouraged by the early season victories. The Friars have proven to be a tough opponent for the Crimson (5-4 overall) in the past and Harvard looked forward to the twin bill as a way of judging its chances for a successful season.

"We haven't beaten Providence in the three years I've been here," senior third baseman Beth Reilly said. "It was a major win for us and is great for our confidence."

The team's attitude is a major factor in its improvement over last year's play. Harvard went 3-4 over spring recess, a performance that gave the Crimson confidence going into the start of regular-season play. Last season, the Crimson suffered a disastrous 0-7 Florida trip which the Crimson could not rebound from.

This year the seven freshmen on the varsity team have been key in turning the defeatist attitude around.

"The freshmen are a crucial part of the team," junior pitcher Julie Fromholz said. "They have a terrific attitude and just seem really excited to be playing softball. It's really inspiring for the rest of us."

Harvard won decisively in both ends of Tuesday's double-header. In the first game, the women came up with three runs in the first inning en route to an easy win. Providence came back with two runs in the second inning, but Harvard held on to the security run.

The Crimson took control of the second game with two runs in the fourth inning and again held the lead for the rest of the game.

Both Fromholz and sophomore pitcher Chris Carr led the team with their tough pitching. They are the only two pitchers for the team, but they do not see this as a problem.

"Having two healthy pitchers is more than we've had in the past," Fromholz said. "It's a little bit scary because we really can't afford to get hurt, but we're perfectly happy as it is."

With these victories under their belts, the women are looking forward to a possible Ivy League title season. One of the most important match-ups of the season will be the double header this Saturday against Princeton, which has dominated the league in recent years.

"Princeton probably isn't looking for much competition in us, but it will definitely be a good game," Reilly said. "We have a lot of momentum coming out of the last game, and we have every reason to be optimistic for a great year."

NOTEBOOK: Reilly went 5-8 in the double-header and scored four runs...Carr and Fromholz both pitched complete games. Fromholz allowed the Friars just five hits, while Carr held Providence to seven. Crimson, 8-2 in Providence, R.I. HARVARD Name  AB  R  H  BI Fitta.lf  3  2  1  0 Kao.cf  4  0  0  0 Reilly.3b  4  2  2  0 Resnick.lb  4  2  3  0 A'strong.dh  3  2  2  0 F'holz.p  2  0  1  0 Meinz.ph  0  0  0  0 D'nldson.2b  3  0  1  0 Dawson.ph  1  0  1  0 Belisle.rf  3  0  0  0 Nelson.ph  0  0  0  0 D'nais.ss  4  0  1  0 Vogt  0  0  0  0 Totals  27  8  12  2 Providence Name  AB  R  H  BI T'mpson.cf  3  0  1  0 Bakes.lf  2  0  0  0 Finley.3b  3  0  0  0 Paccione.lb  3  0  1  0 Dowd.c  3  1  0  0 Ciasalli.dh  2  1  0  0 Guerrero.rf  3  0  2  0 C'fran.ss  3  0  1  0 Bigos.2b  3  0  0  0 Perkoski.p  0  0  0  0   25  2  5  2

Home Runs--Harvard. none; Providence, none   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  R  H  E HARVARD  3  0  2  2  0  0  1  8  12  3 Providence  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  2  5  2 HARVARD  IP  H  R  ER  BB  K Fromholz (W)  7  5  2  2  1  1 Providence  IP  H  R  ER  BB  K Perkoski (L)  7  12  8  2  2  2

Crimson, 4-1 in Providence, R.I. HARVARD Name  AB  R  H  BI Fitta.lf  4  0  2  0 Kao.cf  4  0  0  0 Reilly.3b  3  2  3  0 Resnick.lb  3  0  0  0 A'strong.dh  2  2  1  0 D'nais.rf  2  0  0  0 Kennon.ss  3  0  1  0 Carr.p  2  0  0  0 Meinz.ph  1  0  0  0 D'nldson.2b  3  0  0  0 Pocius.c  0  0  0  0 Totals  26  4  7  2 Providence Name  AB  R  H  BI T'mpson.cf  4  0  1  0 Bakes.lf  2  1  0  0 Finley.3b  3  0  0  0 Paccione.lb  1  0  0  0 Dowd.c  3  0  0  0 Mitta.rf  3  0  1  0 C'fran.ss  3  0  0  0 Guerrero.dh  3  0  0  0 Bigos.2b  2  0  1  0 Sculley.p  0  0  0  0   26  1  4  1

Home Runs--Harvard, none; Providence, none   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  R  H  E HARVARD  0  0  0  0  2  0  2  4  7  1 Providence  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  1  4  0 HARVARD  IP  H  R  ER  BB  K Carr (W)  7  1  4  2  2  1 Providence  IP  H  R  ER  BB  K Sculley (L)  7  7  4  1  2  4

Home Runs--Harvard. none; Providence, none   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  R  H  E HARVARD  3  0  2  2  0  0  1  8  12  3 Providence  0  2  0  0  0  0  0  2  5  2 HARVARD  IP  H  R  ER  BB  K Fromholz (W)  7  5  2  2  1  1 Providence  IP  H  R  ER  BB  K Perkoski (L)  7  12  8  2  2  2

Crimson, 4-1 in Providence, R.I. HARVARD Name  AB  R  H  BI Fitta.lf  4  0  2  0 Kao.cf  4  0  0  0 Reilly.3b  3  2  3  0 Resnick.lb  3  0  0  0 A'strong.dh  2  2  1  0 D'nais.rf  2  0  0  0 Kennon.ss  3  0  1  0 Carr.p  2  0  0  0 Meinz.ph  1  0  0  0 D'nldson.2b  3  0  0  0 Pocius.c  0  0  0  0 Totals  26  4  7  2 Providence Name  AB  R  H  BI T'mpson.cf  4  0  1  0 Bakes.lf  2  1  0  0 Finley.3b  3  0  0  0 Paccione.lb  1  0  0  0 Dowd.c  3  0  0  0 Mitta.rf  3  0  1  0 C'fran.ss  3  0  0  0 Guerrero.dh  3  0  0  0 Bigos.2b  2  0  1  0 Sculley.p  0  0  0  0   26  1  4  1

Home Runs--Harvard, none; Providence, none   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  R  H  E HARVARD  0  0  0  0  2  0  2  4  7  1 Providence  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  1  4  0 HARVARD  IP  H  R  ER  BB  K Carr (W)  7  1  4  2  2  1 Providence  IP  H  R  ER  BB  K Sculley (L)  7  7  4  1  2  4

Crimson, 4-1 in Providence, R.I. HARVARD Name  AB  R  H  BI Fitta.lf  4  0  2  0 Kao.cf  4  0  0  0 Reilly.3b  3  2  3  0 Resnick.lb  3  0  0  0 A'strong.dh  2  2  1  0 D'nais.rf  2  0  0  0 Kennon.ss  3  0  1  0 Carr.p  2  0  0  0 Meinz.ph  1  0  0  0 D'nldson.2b  3  0  0  0 Pocius.c  0  0  0  0 Totals  26  4  7  2 Providence Name  AB  R  H  BI T'mpson.cf  4  0  1  0 Bakes.lf  2  1  0  0 Finley.3b  3  0  0  0 Paccione.lb  1  0  0  0 Dowd.c  3  0  0  0 Mitta.rf  3  0  1  0 C'fran.ss  3  0  0  0 Guerrero.dh  3  0  0  0 Bigos.2b  2  0  1  0 Sculley.p  0  0  0  0   26  1  4  1

Home Runs--Harvard, none; Providence, none   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  R  H  E HARVARD  0  0  0  0  2  0  2  4  7  1 Providence  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  1  4  0 HARVARD  IP  H  R  ER  BB  K Carr (W)  7  1  4  2  2  1 Providence  IP  H  R  ER  BB  K Sculley (L)  7  7  4  1  2  4

Home Runs--Harvard, none; Providence, none   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  R  H  E HARVARD  0  0  0  0  2  0  2  4  7  1 Providence  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  1  4  0 HARVARD  IP  H  R  ER  BB  K Carr (W)  7  1  4  2  2  1 Providence  IP  H  R  ER  BB  K Sculley (L)  7  7  4  1  2  4