Comebacks are the old story for the Crimson. The new one is freshman pitcher Sean Johnston. Taking over for starter Greg Ubert in the sixth, Johnston fanned eight Engineers in his four innings of work. Although he gave up two runs, Johnston kept MIT off balance.

"He showed a lot of poise," Nahigian said. "He's come along and [he] threw extremely well for a freshman."

MIT teed off on Harvard in the first. Ubert walked shortstop Pillan Thirumalaisamy. Helping his own cause as well as the team's, Griffin doubled to deep center to drive in the first run of the game.

Catcher Tim Day then blasted a homerun to left field, and the Engineers mounted a 3-0 lead. After the first, however, Ubert found his game and shut down MIT, retiring 12 straight batters.

"I don't know how they got those hits in the first," Ubert said. "[After Day's homer] I was just trying to throw strikes."

THE NOTEBOOK: MIT committed three errors and gave up three unearned runs...Nahigian removed Ubert after the fifth inning because the righty is pitching Sunday against Army...The Crimson out hit the Engineers, 14-6...Harvard meets B.U. for at least a share of the GBL title today at 3 p.m. at Soldiers Field. The game was rescheduled from a rainout on April 8.