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Arizona Softball to begin regional play with Harvard

Posted at 4:59 PM, May 16, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-16 23:17:05-04

TUCSON, Ariz — There is no media from Boston here in Tucson to cover the Harvard softball team, and there is no one else who thinks they stand a chance against host Arizona in the upcoming Tucson Regional of the NCAA Tournament.

"I just want to extend my season," said Harvard senior catcher Elizabeth Shively. "I'm pretty sure the others seniors feel the same way. You want to stay in this Harvard uniform as long as you possibly can. We're not the kind of team to just roll over and quit. and so we are kind of in that fight mode right now and that's what I expect us to do."

The Crimson hit just twenty two home runs this season to Arizona's NCAA leading ninety nine long balls. Harvard does have Ivy League Pitcher of the Year Katie Duncan.

"We headed into conference play and we were picked to win the conference," said Jenny Allard, the head coach of the Ivy League Champions. "Everybody was targeting us and now we come in here and now we're the underdog by a lot. They know that and they are ready to fight. And, they are going to fight as hard as they possibly can and represent the Ivy League as best as we possibly can."

Arizona is making its 33rd consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, the longest active streak in the country, and seven years longer than the second-longest active streak and the longest streak ever in the sport. Harvard last visited Hillenbrand Stadium in the 2011 Tucson regional, a game in which they lost 10-0 in six innings.