Harvard softball started its 2026 season with a walk-off win against Northern Colorado, finishing the day with a 5-4 victory. Senior infielder Finley Payne delivered the game-winning two-run RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Earlier in the day, Harvard lost to Sacramento State by a score of 1-0. The Crimson’s offense struggled in that game but improved significantly against Northern Colorado, scoring five runs on 11 hits.
Junior outfielder and team captain Audrey Szollosi led Harvard at the plate during the win, recording three hits and scoring two runs. Senior pitcher and co-captain Ryan Grace was effective throughout both games, allowing only one run over seven innings and striking out six batters.
In the first game against Sacramento State, Harvard used three pitchers who combined to allow just one run and seven hits. Junior pitcher Nicolette Hunter started for Harvard, pitching 3.1 innings with two strikeouts and one run allowed. Grace and senior Riley Flynn finished the game without giving up any more runs. Five different Crimson players had hits in this contest, including first-year infielder Hannah Ziecik, who notched her first career hit.
Sacramento State scored its only run in the fourth inning and maintained its lead for a 1-0 win. Harvard did not commit an error during this game.
Against Northern Colorado, after falling behind early, Harvard responded quickly in their half of the first inning. Back-to-back bunts from Szollosi and sophomore Quinn Salazar-Stewart set up junior Sophie Sun for a two-run RBI single. The teams traded runs in the third inning before entering a scoreless stretch until Northern Colorado took a one-run lead in the top of the seventh.
In their final at-bat, sophomore Elena Weinseimer and Szollosi opened with consecutive hits before Sun was intentionally walked to load the bases. Payne then hit her walk-off single to secure Harvard’s first win of the season.
Head coach Jenny Rohn has now guided Harvard to a 5-1 record on opening day across her three seasons leading the program. Szollosi led all Crimson players over both games with four total hits and two runs scored. Ziecik and first-year outfielder Sheila Forbes each recorded their first career hits during these contests.
Harvard will conclude its time in Phoenix by playing Grand Canyon University tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time before facing Northern Colorado again at 4 p.m., with coverage available live on themw.com.
