The Harvard-Boston College baseball game at Soldiers Field yesterday had everything--managers with a combined 710 lifetime victories in 55 years, a great pitching duel, and the suspense of an extra-inning ballgame.

Well, almost everything.

Because when B.C. relief pitcher Jim Robinson walked Chris McAndrews on four straight pitches with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning, this masterpiece was suddenly soured.

But hey, a win's a win, and if you're a Harvard fan you can't argue with the outcome of this game: Crimson 3, Eagles 2.

Harvard raised its overall and Greater Boston League record to 2-0, while BC fell to 4-9 overall.

"That was one of the best college ballgames I've ever seen," B.C. Coach Eddie Pellagrini said. "It's a shame for anyone to lose that ballgame."

Crimson helmsman Alex Nahigian echoed his counterpart. "It was a great college game. Both teams played outstanding defense."

And displayed outstanding pitching.

After giving up a hit in each of the first two innings, Harvard starter Chris March set down the Eagles in order for the next four innings. When he left the game after eight frames, he had given up just two runs, four hits, and one base on balls.

"Our pitchers challenged their hitters," Nahigian said. "Every pitch meant something."

"My forkball wasn't working well today, so I threw a lot of fastballs and sliders," the left-handed Marchok said. "You pitch with so much more confidence when you know that the fielders are going to make the play. Everybody played great."

Catcher Frank Morelli, for instance, who earlier nailed a B.C. player attempting to steal, snagged a good Mike Azzolini bunt up the firstbase line in the sixth inning and threw to first baseman Rich Renninger in time.

In the fourth inning, centerfielder Paul Vallone chased down a shot by James Adams in right-centerfield, and, two innings later, teammate Chris McAndrews--also facing the glaring sunlight--tracked down a B.C. line drive hit far to his left.

Marchok's counterpart, Thomas Otto, also threw a solid game. He scattered six hits and two runs in his eight innings of work, striking out five Crimson batters and walking three.

"[Otto] wasn't that quick," Harvard catcher Frank Morelli said, "but he had good location and control."