After that, neither team put up a run until the second half of the fifth inning when Harvard plated in an additional two runs, bringing the score to 4-1.

Brown answered with a run of their own in the top of the sixth inning, reducing the deficit to two runs.

But the Crimson quickly increased its lead back up to three, as Alexander drove in sophomore right fielder Shelbi Olson with a single down the right-field line.

The Bears were unable to muster a run in the seventh inning as Harvard won, 5-2.

HARVARD 5, BROWN 0

The Crimson silenced the bats of the Brown offense to earn a 5-0 shutout victory in the first game on Saturday. Stephanie Thompson—the Bears’ star slugger who is currently ranked second in the NCAA with a .489 batting average—went 0-for-1 with two walks.

Harvard was the first squad to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning when Alexander scored on a passed ball.

The Crimson then extended its lead to two runs in the second inning, as co-captain and first baseman Whitney Shaw ripped a solo homerun to right center.

In the third inning, Heritage touched home on a wild pitch, making the score 3-0.

The fourth inning featured another scoreless half for Brown while Harvard tacked on another run to increase its lead to four.

Rookie centerfielder Camilla Gibson singled to the shortstop, advanced to second on an Alexander single, and then came home on a throwing error by the Bears’ infield.

In what proved to be the game’s last score, the Crimson mustered its fifth run in as many innings to cement the 5-0 win.

—Staff writer Marlee Melendy can be reached at melendy@college.harvard.edu.