More that half of the first-year students who won a chance to see the Red Sox home opener will not be able to attend the game because of a shortage of tickets.

The West Yard dormitories--which include Massachusetts Hall, Strauss Hall and Matthews Hall--won an Athletic Department-sponsored contest for best attendance of football games last fall, and were awarded tickets for opening day at Fenway Park.

But Jon London of Kelley Communications, which coordinated the contest, said his company was "caught off guard" by Fenway Park's new limit on ticket purchases, designed to reduce scalping.

"I wish we could do something about it, but it was a new policy they about it, but it was a new policy they justinstituted," London said.

West Yard residents were offered 120tickets--dispensed on a first-come, first-servebasis--for Monday's game. The approximately 200remaining residents will be able to attend anotherRed Sox game later in the season.

Sign-up sheets for the alternative game will beavailable from noon to 3 p.m. today in the MalkinAthletic Center.

"We are trying to take care of anyone who mighthave gotten left out in the best possible way wecould," he said. "We did put together thisalternate plan."

Although London, who supervised thedistribution of tickets yesterday, said theprocess was "going smoothly," a few studentsexpressed disappointment.

"If they were to offer the prize, they shouldoffer it to everyone who contributed," said JohnH. Lo '95. "I went to the football games, andthat's part of why we won."

Other students were not as concerned about thesplitting of the West Yard winners or of thealternative game.

"I get to go to a game anyway," said CarlosMendez '95. "Opening day is just the beginninggame of the season.