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Softball Sweeps Crosstown Rival

Abeles' heroics help Harvard take two from B.U.

Is there anything she can't do?

Sophomore shortstop Deborah Abeles continued her torrid season yesterday as her three-run homer in the top of the eighth inning led the Harvard softball team (20-17) to an 8-5 extra-innings comeback win and doubleheader sweep of Boston University (16-21) in Boston. The Crimson shut out the Terriers in the first game, 5-0.

"It was exciting and it showed at lot of perseverance that we came from behind [in the second game]," said Abeles, who was 5-for-9 on the day. "It definitely feels good. In my time here we've never swept B.U."

Abeles' home run also broke or tied a slew of Harvard records. It marks her seventh home run of the year, which breaks a three-way tie for the single-season record, and the 10th of her career, which ties Abeles with Katina Lee '97 for tops in school history. The three RBI also give Abeles 73 in the short Harvard career, which shatters the previous record of 70.

Abeles' drama almost overshadows the dominant effort of senior pitcher Tasha Cupp (10-3), who tossed a three-hit, 12-strikeout gem in the opener. A three-run home run by junior Tara LaSovage was the game winner in the first game.

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Freshman Mairead McKendry had two hits in the nightcap, including a game-tying homer in the seventh.

Harvard 5, B.U. 0

Cupp was nearly untouchable for seven strong innings and helped her own cause with a run-scoring double as the Crimson posted the 5-0 blanking.

LaSovage started the scoring in the third with a three-run home run, her second of the season. Harvard added insurance with a run in the fourth and another in the fifth, but the way Cupp was pitching, it seems almost gratuitous.

The 12 Terriers Cupp fanned in a season high for Harvard pitching.

"My screwball and curveball were working, [and] I may have had a little more pop on the ball," said Cupp, who did not yield an extra base hit. "It was nice to have a warm day to play, since you don't get tight in between innings."

"[Cupp] is looking great," Abeles said. "I was amazed--they just weren't touching the ball."

B.U. pitcher Robyn King took the first of two losses she would sustain on the day.

Harvard 8, B.U 5

The Crimson showed that the word "letdown" was not in its vocabulary, overcoming a 5-2 fifth inning deficit to earn the 8-5 win.

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