A rejuvenated Harvard nine came from behind to beat M.I.T., 7-4, yesterday at Soldiers' Field. The victory kept the Crimson squad, 6-5 for the season, undefeated in the Greater Boston League and leading B.U. in the standings by one game.
Starting their first game of the season, second baseman Bill Cherry scored twice and drove in two more runs and sophomore Curt Tucker crossed the plate one and had two RBI's.
Although the Techmen got a hit in every inning, they were never able to unleash an extra base drive. Winning southpaw J. C. Nickens lasted six innings and coach Loyal Park sent pitchers Tuckers, Tom DaShiell, and Bob Kalinowski in for one inning each.
Nine Crimson batters shared the honors in Harvard's twelve-hit barrage. In addition to Cherry and Tucker's runscoring hits, captain John Ignacio doubled to left twice and hurler Nickens helped, his own cause with two singles.
Without hitting a ball out of the infield, M.I.T. jumped to an early lead with two runs in the third. Lead-off batter John Compton walked an advanced to second when pitcher Dave DeWitte lined a bunt past first baseman Pete Bernhard. After a wild pitch by Nickens put both runners in scoring position, Lee Bristol drove Compton home with a perfect squeeze-play bunt. While DeWitte broke for the plate, Minot Cleveland lain down a second perfect bunt to give the Techmen a 2-0 lead.
The Crimson exploded with no one out in the fourth when shortstop Bill Kelly sandwiched a single between walks to Ignacio and Tucker to load the bases. A line drive single to center field by Cherry brought home Harvard's first two men and tied the score, 2-2.
Nine Crimson batters came to the plate in the four-run fifth. Bernhard opened the rally with a perfect drag bunt toward first, and Ignacio followed with a double along the left field foul line. Tucker then hit a high bouncer to third that Cleveland fielded but threw wildly to first, allowing the go-ahead runs to score. Obviously tiring, DeWitte hit Cherry on the arm and gave up a single to Nickens to load the bases. Sophomore Dan DeMichele then doubled to short center to wrap up the game for the Crimson.
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