Those four games were the Crimson's first with a roster split evenly between freshmen and veterans: a very different team dynamic from last year.

"When we first found out how many freshmen were coming, we were taken aback," said sophomore tri-captain Grace Bloodwell. "But it's been really smooth. All 10 of them are so enthusiastic and eager."

"The team has generated a lot of good chemistry," said Harvard Coach Jenny Allard. "The freshmen have come in with a lot of experience."

The freshmen have big shoes to fill, with the loss of graduated stars, including Deborah Abeles '00, who was Harvard's all-time leader in hits, home runs, and RBI. The team took an additional hit when All-Ivy junior pitcher Suzanne Guy decided to take the semester off.

"[The freshmen] are at a disadvantage because they're expected to contribute right away," McKendry said. "There's a lot of pressure on them."

The 10 freshmen do have a distinct advantage in the support that they receive both on and off the field from an accomplished group of veterans. Allard will rotate between her large selection of players to fine-tune her lineup before the Ivy season begins.

"It's still preseason and we have a lot of players," Allard said. "We want to find a good set of role players."