Brown freshman Olivia Pichardo made NCAA history Friday, becoming the school’s first woman to compete in a Division I baseball game.
The freshman from New York City left with a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth inning and moved to first base in a 10-1 loss to Bryant in Providence, Rhode Island.
“I hope this shows people that if a player is talented enough, they should be judged solely on their baseball ability. No other factor should factor into that. And Liv is an example,” Browns coach Grant Achilles said.
“It doesn’t just take all his work and effort. It takes a network of people who have supported him along the way. It takes teammates along the way. His teammates are a special group that both of them can understand. It’s a historic moment, and he’s a baseball player as a teammate. meets our standard as a person. I think the most beautiful part of that for me is his teamwork. They don’t white glove him. Because it’s different. They work with him to navigate the space as an individual and that’s how he brings his best every day, pushes others. , then enhances our team by having a unique dynamic.
“So when it comes to how other teams and other girls hope to use Olivia as motivation, I don’t think it’s something you can do on your own.”
Pichardo became the first woman to make an active NCAA Division I varsity baseball roster in the fall.
At the time, Achilles said he was impressed with his physicality during and after the first practice, calling it “the most complete practice I’ve seen from a player” since becoming Brown’s coach in 2012.
Pichardo was a pitcher and outfielder for the USA Women’s National Baseball Team during the summer and previously played varsity baseball at Queens.
Brown dropped to 1-10 with Friday’s home opener loss.
