Faced with the challenge of playing back-to-back double-headers in Providence and New Haven last weekend, the Harvard baseball team responded by splitting both, winning the opener and then falling in the nightcap on consecutive days.
Against Yale yesterday the Crimson took the first game 7-4, on the strength of two home runs by Donnie Allard and some solid pitching from freshman Jeff Musselman. Allard hit a three-run shot in the first to give Harvard can early lead and then followed with an RBI-single and a solo roundtripper--all told driving in five of the Crimson's seven runs
Boom
Allard provided all the fireworks that Musselman needed to notch his second win of the season. The yardling surrendered four runs to the Elis before tiring in the seventh, allowing Mike Smerczynski to get the last two outs
A weaker team than last year's Eastern League-winning squad following the losses of fifth round NFL, draft pick Rich Diana and current minor-leaguer Ron Darling, Yale got revenge in the second game by coming back from a two-run deficit to triumph, 5-3.
As it has all season, the longball once again sunk the Crimson With the score even at three in the sixth inning. Harvard hurler Charlie Marchese delivered his third home-run ball of the game, a two-run blast that turned out to be the game-winner Harvard catcher Vinnie Martelli doubled in the seventh, but the threat went by the boards to give the Crimson an even record on the weekend.
Cremation
Harvard hitters tared much better against Brown on Saturday, especially in the first game when the Crimson teed off for nineteen hits against three different Bruin pitchers enroute to a lopsided 15-2 win.
Veteran Billy Doyle went the distance for Harvard, allowing only two hits, to secure his third victory of the year Meanwhile, center-fielder Bruce Weller and Martelli provided plenty of power for the visitors, each hitting a homerun to propel Harvard to an early 8-0 lead.
Oops
The Crimson again outhit Brown in the second game, 11-10. But sloppy defense--three errors and a big second inning for the Bruins (six runs)--combined to sink Harvard, 9-7.
Harvard starter Greg Brown failed to survive the disastrous second inning, but reliever John Sorich held the Bruins to one run over tour innings while the Crimson bats chipped away at Brown's lead. Marteill homered for the second time of the day and Allard blasted his first of three roundtrippers on the weekend as Harvard tallied once in the fourth, once in the fifth, and twice in both the sixth and seventh, only to come up short
Hmmm...
Questionable umpiring ultimately doomed the Crimson in the seventh With one out and two runs in, an infield rule was called on a play which would have left the Common with everyone sale and the bases loaded. Faced with two outs instead, the Crimson loaded the bases before losing this game.
THE NOTEBOOK including the doubleheader sweep at Boston Colege Friday, the Crimson played, a gracling six games in three days. Following weekend action Harvard's state is still below 500, standing at 11.22.
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