SAN DIEGO – The San Diego softball program (7-21, 0-0 WCC) earned a big split of a doubleheader against Harvard (9-7, 0-0 Ivy), winning game one, 3-2 and falling 5-4 in game two on Tuesday evening at the USD Softball Complex.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – SAN DIEGO 3, HARVARD 2

• Following a thrilling doubleheader last season, the two sides were locked in step from the very beginning.
• Courtney Rose made the start in the circle and shined, stranding multiple runners on the base paths through the first three innings.
• While Harvard scored the game's opening run in the fourth inning, the Toreros quickly had a response.
• Joecellia Roberts led off the inning with a walk and Arisa Tovar singled to put runners on the corners with one out.
• The Toreros drew up a well-executed double steal, as Roberts came home to tie the game at 1-1.
• From there, the Toreros made the Crimson pay for errors on the defensive end, as Tovar advanced to third base on a dropped fly ball, before coming home on a passed ball to make it 2-1.
• Harvard was able to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning, but the Toreros quickly reestablished the lead in the bottom half of the frame.
• Tele Jennings and Taylor Johnson tallied back-to-back singles and Jennings advanced to third on a fielder's choice to set up Amanda Limon.
• The senior delivered a key RBI single up the middle to take a 3-2 lead.
• Rose would give way to McKenna Braegelmann, who tallied two strikeouts and held the Crimson in check to secure her first save of the season and a Torero win.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED – HARVARD 5, SAN DIEGO 4

• Harvard came out of the gate quickly in the first inning, hitting a three-run home run and emerging with a 4-0 lead.
• From there, Emma Giaime would enter the game in the circle and settle things down for her team.
• Giaime breezed through her first inning with two strikeouts and gave the Torero offense time to claw back in the game.
• Johnson doubled in the third inning and Michelle Delgado reached on an error to put two runners in scoring position.
• Limon continued her big day with a two RBI double to score both runners and cut the Harvard lead to 4-2.
• The Toreros added another run in the fifth inning, as Johnson singles and Roberts walked, before Limon singled to drive in Johnson and cut the lead to 4-3.
• Giaime continued her scoreless run through the sixth inning, but Harvard was able to hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to make it 5-3.
• With chances running low, the Torero offense attempted to rally as Roberts reached on an error and Limon singled to set up Tovar.
• Tovar battled to a full count before dunking a single into left field to score a run and make it 5-4.
• EJ Joyner nearly tied the game with a first-pitch laser, but it was snared by the first baseman to end the game.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Giaime's 10 strikeouts against Harvard are the most by any Torero since Braegelmann on Apr. 23, 2022 against BYU.
• Giaime recorded the most strikeouts in relief by a Torero since Cassidy Coleman (11) on Mar. 1, 2013 against Utah State.
• As a staff, the Toreros struck out 12 Harvard batters in game two, good for the most by the team since tallying 13 against Sam Houston State on Mar. 18, 2022.
• With her start in game one, Rose matched Madison Earnshaw (112) for fourth all-time in program history in pitching appearances.
• Limon matched a single game career-high with three RBI against Harvard.

 
NEXT UP

• The Toreros are back in action on Thursday at 6 p.m., as they start a three-game series against Rutgers at the USD Softball Complex.

 
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