Harvard 7, Dartmouth 4

Given that Harvard had already clinched the division title, one might have expected some measure of complacency out of the Crimson in the nightcap of Monday's doubleheader.

Harvard's bats once again proved that to be far from true, however, as the Crimson got on the board early with two runs in the second.

First, Albers singled home Hochanadel with no outs in the inning. Then, after freshman Jason LaRocque walked, sophomore rightfielder Andrew Huling drove in Albers on a fielder's choice.

Dartmouth came right back with three runs off Jamieson in the bottom of the inning.

The Big Green drove in the first run on back-to-back doubles by freshman Brian Nickerson and Little. An RBI single by sophomore Ron Friedman accounted for the tying run, and classmate Michael Conway singled him home to give Dartmouth a 3-2 lead.

But Jamieson and juniors Mike Marcucci and John Wells held the Big Green in check the rest of the game. The only run the Crimson pitchers let up after the three-run third came on an RBI double by Spencer in the sixth.

With the pitching staff largely doing its job, Harvard's hitters needed only drive in a few runs, a skill at which they have become particularly adept over the last few games.

"The whole weekend we didn't stop swinging the sticks," Albers said. "Anytime there was doubt in any game, we came back swinging, and you have to feel good about that, especially going into the playoffs."

After an RBI single by Hochanadel in the third knotted the game at three, the Crimson took the lead for good in the fifth inning when it mounted a big two-out rally. With Ralph on first, Hochanadel hit tripled to center to drive in the go-ahead run. Freshman Eric Binkowski then singled Hochanadel to provide what turned out to be a needed insurance run.

Albers hit his fourth home run of the season in the sixth to give the Crimson a 6-3 lead.

Northeastern 6, Harvard 3

Yesterday in Brookline the Harvard baseball team suffered its first loss in 10 games and only its second in 16 games.

Northeastern lit up Harvard starter Mike Giampaolo (2-1) for four runs on four hits in the second inning to post an insurmountable lead. The big blow in the innning was a two-run homer by first baseman Carlos Pena.

Harvard's bats struck back in the top of the third. With junior David Forst on second and sophomore Todd Harris on first, junior Aaron Kessler brought in Harvard's first run with an RBI single to right.