NEW YORK — Harvard generated four runs on just four hits, which was enough to defeat Columbia, 4-1, and sweep the weekend series on Sunday at the Columbia Softball Stadium.
 
The Lions (7-18, 4-5 Ivy) recorded two more hits than Harvard (12-13, 6-3 Ivy) but stranded six runners on base. First-year Maddie Souza drove in the lone run in the first on a seeing-eye single to left. Souza's hit came with the bases loaded as the Lions went station-to-station, but they couldn't bring anyone else across. Harvard starter Anna Reed retired the next two batters and didn't allow another run the rest of the way, earning her seventh win of the season in the complete-game effort.
 
Souza's run-scoring hit answered Harvard's opening tally from the top half. The Crimson scored the run without even needing a hit, taking advantage of a hit-by-pitch and a walk before scoring off of a wild pitch. Two passed balls in the second inning helped them retake the lead.
 
Harvard created some separation in the third. After Columbia starter Jordan Hill retired the leadoff hitter, Allison Heffley singled and Morgan Melito walked to bring Madi Mays to bat with one down. Mays singled on a sharp liner to left, which bounced in front of Jaden Hill and got by her, rolling all the way down near the fence and allowing both runners to score.
 
Hill worked her way out of any further trouble and cruised through the rest of the game, retiring 14 of the final 15 batters she faced. Three of the four runs she gave up were unearned, going on to allow just four hits and three walks while striking out five in the 110-pitch outing.
 
Unfortunately, Columbia's bats never came to life. Souza led off the fourth with a single to cap her 2-for-3 day at the plate. Maria Pagane also collected two hits, but the Lions never advanced a runner into scoring position after loading the bases in the first, suffering their first three-game sweep since the Ivy League adopted the new format in 2018.
 
Columbia will make a short trip to Fairfield, Connecticut to take on the Stags this Wednesday at 4 p.m. The Lions return home next weekend to host a three-game set against Yale.

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