Softball Passes Final Non-Conference Test, Beats Stonehill

Harvard (19-17-1, 10-5 Ivy) softball returned to the ballpark Tuesday night to face the Stonehill Skyhawks (10-32, 5-12 NEC) for its final non-conference game of the 2026 season. In the first meeting between the programs since 1992, the Crimson delivered a strong performance with a dominant 11-4 win.

Both teams entered the matchup with something to prove. Stonehill arrived in Cambridge following a tough loss to Le Moyne College on its senior day, hoping to regain momentum. Harvard looked to bounce back after dropping the final game of its series against the University of Pennsylvania.

In the first inning, the Crimson wasted no time gaining control. Senior second baseman Finley Payne initiated the Harvard havoc with a triple that was later converted thanks to an RBI from sophomore infielder Alexa Mueller. That sequence ignited a four-run inning and gave the Crimson a 4-0 lead that it did not relinquish.

After a quiet second inning, the Harvard offense surged again in the third inning. In the bottom of the inning, with runners on first and second, junior pitcher Nicolette Hunter hit a straight line drive down the middle of the field, clearing the bases for an RBI double and extending the Crimson’s lead to 6-2. Sophomore outfielder Elena Weiseimer followed up with an RBI single, pushing the margin to 7-2 and continuing Harvard’s relentless offensive pressure.

As the Crimson entered the fourth inning on a hot streak, the Skyhawks sought to cool the home team’s momentum. Both teams exchanged runs, beginning with Stonehill gaining a two-run homer and igniting a little energy. However, Harvard was not fazed by this small spark. The Crimson answered immediately and emphatically with a three-run homer courtesy of Hunter once again. The junior from Camarillo, Calif., accounted for three of the seven runs up to this point in the game, and launched a three-run homer deep over the left field fence. This was the 2025 All-Ivy League Second Teamer’s fourth home run of the season, ranking second for Harvard this season.

The Crimson capped its scoring with the bat lying in none other than junior shortstop Sophie Sun’s hands. Entering the game as Harvard’s leading home run hitter and first in RBIs (41), Sun rattled a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to seal the victory, 11-4, and tack on the Crimson’s 19th win of the season.

On the mound, senior Riley Flunn and Hunter struck out double-digit batters for the third time this season, combining for 10 strikeouts. Offensively, Harvard hit an astounding 11 runs on 13 hits, with Hunter marking a career high six RBIs on two hits. The young talent truly showed up for the Crimson with Weinseimer driving in her first run for the first time since March 15, and freshman infielder Hannah Ziecik extending her hitting streak to nine games, the longest active run on the team.

With momentum on its side, Harvard now turns its attention to a pivotal senior weekend showdown against Princeton. The matchup, which features the top two teams in the Ivy League standings, is set for an April 25 double-header and rubber-match on Sunday and will be streamed on ESPN+. The first game on Saturday will begin at 12:30 p.m. EDT, and the second game will immediately follow. The Sunday, stand-alone game will also begin at 12:30 p.m. EDT. The Tigers have consistently proven to be a thorn in the Crimson’s side, beating it in all four matchups last season, including ending its season in last year’s Ivy League Tournament.

—Staff writer Chandler Piggé can be reached at [email protected].