Chavez, Syrop Power Softball to 4-2 Win over Harvard in Game 2

Sunday, April 12

Providence, RI

12:30 pm

Brown University

9-15, 3-8

Harvard

17-15, 8-3

Harvard

Brown

Chavez, Syrop Power Softball to 4-2 Win over Harvard in Game 2

4/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Senior Trista Chavez and sophomore Sarah Syrop hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth to lift Brown University softball to a 4-2 win in game two after the hosts dropped a 10-8 decision to Harvard University in game one at the Brown Softball Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Bears (10-15, 4-8 Ivy) split the Ivy League North Division doubleheader with the Crimson (17-16, 8-4 Ivy) after the visitors claimed the first two games of the four-game series on Saturday.

Sophomore pitcher Leah Nakashima (San Jose, Calif.) shut the Crimson down in game two, scattering five hits over seven innings and allowing two runs with three strikeouts.

Chavez (San Pedro, Calif.) and Syrop (Kennesaw, Ga.) hit consecutive solo shots to lead off the bottom of the fifth, giving the Bears a 2-1 lead.

Next, Brown hosts Providence College on Wednesday at 4 p.m. prior to returning to Ivy play with a four-game series at Dartmouth from April 18-19.

Game 1 – Harvard 10, Brown 8

Sophomore Julia Schoenewald (Jamison, Pa.) hit a bases-clearing double while Chavez, Syrop, and freshman Annie McGregor (Carlsbad, Calif.) each notched two hits as Brown fell to Harvard, 10-8, in the opener.

Schoenewald tallied three RBIs, Syrop went 2-for-3 with an RBI, McGregor went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, and Chavez went 2-for-4. Junior Janet Leung (Mississauga, Ontario) and sophomore Lauren Hanna (Milford, Mass.) each scored two runs.

For Harvard, Laura Ricciardone hit a three-run homer, and Catherine Callaway registered a three-run triple. Pitcher Taylor Cabe (5-6) earned the win, tossing four innings of relief and permitting two runs on two hits with five strikeouts.

Freshman pitcher Katie Orona (Pueblo, Colo.) took the loss (6-6), pitching seven innings and allowing six earned runs on 15 hits with three strikeouts.

The Bears took a 4-0 lead after the bottom of the first as the team loaded the bases giving McGregor a chance to drive in a run with a single down the left field line. Schoenewald then followed with her bases-clearing, three-run double into right center.

The Crimson pulled within 4-3 on Ricciardone's homer to left center in the top of the second.

Leung pushed the hosts' lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the second with a single up the middle before Harvard struck for four runs in the top of the third to take a 7-5 edge. The rally included Callaway's three-run triple.

Brown cut its deficit to 7-6 in the last of the third as Syrop brought in a run with a single through the left side and gained an 8-7 lead in the bottom of the fourth as Leung scored on a wild pitch, and freshman Emily Springfield (Oceanside, Calif.) drove home a run with a single down the left field line.

Harvard gained a 9-8 lead in the top of the fifth as Katherine Lantz hit an RBI single up the middle and scored later in the inning on a wild pitch. The Crimson tacked on one more run in the top of the sixth.

Game 2 – Brown 4, Harvard 2

Chavez and Syrop each hit a home run, Leung and McGregor brought home one run apiece, Nakashima allowed just two runs, and Brown won the nightcap over Harvard, 4-2.

Leung and Hanna each posted 2-for-4 efforts at the plate while Chavez scored a pair of runs. Nakashima picked up her first win of the season (1-4) in the complete game.

Harvard plated the game's first runs in the top of the fifth when Alexa Altchek singled into left center, staking the visitors to a 1-0 edge.

The Bears responded in the next half inning as Chavez started the frame with a home run to left field and Syrop followed with a homer to center. With two outs, Brown loaded the bases with a Hanna single and a pair of walks before McGregor worked a walk of her own to force home a run.

After the Crimson pulled within 3-2 in the top of the sixth, Brown pushed its advantage to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth as Leung singled through the left side to score Chavez from second. Chavez led off the inning with a walk before Syrop moved her over with a sacrifice.

Nakashima retired the Crimson in order in the top of the seventh to seal the win.

Morgan Groom (3-3) suffered the loss, giving up two runs on four hits with four strikeouts over four innings.