Ricciardone and Groom returned to last season’s form, when Harvard’s pitching staff led the Ivy League in ERA. Ricciardone started and struck out six, while walking none, in three innings of work. She earned her sixth win of the season.

Groom came in to finish the job. pitching two perfect innings as the game was cut short due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Rhode Island, which has faced many injuries in their pitching staff this season, was forced to put two position players, junior Kayla Cruz and junior Olivia Hendricks on the mound.

Cruz pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up seven earned runs. Hendricks finished the game out giving up eight earned runs in three and a third innings pitched. The team only has two pitchers active on its roster.

The win was a statement to how much the Crimson have improved throughout the course of the young season. At the beginning of the year it was struggling often to score, but the runs have been coming in droves of late.

“I think everyone is confident and walks with a swagger that they didn’t have before, and that’s good to see,” junior utility player Haley Davis said.

—Staff writer Jacob W. Lynch can be reached at jacoblync@gmail.com.