Birtwell created the beginnings of his own mess by walking two batters, then uncorking a wild pitch to move the runners up to second and third. Corrigale drove in the game's first run with an RBI single that scored third baseman Darryl Clark. He then scored, along with leftfielder Patrick Siemers, when Portman muffed a fly ball.

That gave CSU a 3-0 lead and would ultimately saddle Birtwell (0-1) with the first loss of his Harvard career.

The Crimson rallied for a pair off Buccaneer closer Chad Humbert in the seventh, getting RBI groundouts from sophomore first baseman Graham McKay and junior Jason Larocque.

CSU's Mike Buczek (1-0) worked five shutout innings, striking out four and walking none while allowing just one hit.

Harvard 7, CSU 4

Despite three errors from a typically sure-handed infield, the Crimson made an early 5-2 lead stand up behind a solid relief outing from Duffell, a senior righthander who pitched four no-hit innings to secure the win.

"It's a deep staff and we're all fighting for innings," Duffell said. "I mean, Donny Jamieson and I, who started last year, are coming out of the pen. It's tough for anyone to get innings and coming on in relief is fine with me."

Duffell relieved junior Mike Madden, who was the Crimson's closer last season but did make the occasional start, including the fourth game of the NCAA Regional against Cal State-Fullerton in Baton Rouge, La.