The final exam for Professor of History William Gienapp's History 1653, "Baseball and American Society" course is over. Now Harvard baseball's real final exam can begin.

The Crimson (28-18, 16-4 Ivy) opens its third straight trip to the NCAA tournament tonight in Los Angeles against No. 12 Pepperdine, in the opening round of regional play at USC's Dedeaux Field.

The Waves (43-14) are the first obstacle for a baseball program that has enjoyed a four-year renaissance under Coach Joe Walsh, and is seeking its first College World Series appearance since 1974. This is Harvard's 12th appearance in tournament play, where the Crimson is 23-22.

Top of the Ivy

A trifecta of Ivy League honorees paces the Crimson. Senior center fielder Andrew Huling won Player of the Year after batting .401 with five home runs and 51 RBI, plus contributing as the best defensive outfielder in the league.

Sophomore righthander John Birtwell, who finished 4-4 with a 2.72 ERA but posted only one loss in the Ivy regular season, won Pitcher of the Year after narrowly losing the ERA crown to Princeton sensation Chris Young.

Birtwell figures to start the Crimson's first elimination game this weekend, as he did last year in Baton Rouge, La., when he pitched 7.1 innings of an eventual 6-5 win over Nicholls State.

Freshman righthander Ben Crockett (5-1, 4.88) shared Rookie of the Year with Young and will in all likelihood work long relief, giving way to seniors Garett Vail and Donny Jamieson. Jamieson, who began the season in the bullpen, was pressed into a starting role when classmate Andrew Duffell sprained his elbow in April.

Jamieson (5-0, 5.00) got relief wins in both of the Crimson's NCAA victories last season, and Walsh said he would use that trio--Vail, Birtwell and Jamieson--in his starting rotation. Crockett could also make a Game 4 start.

Here's a look at Harvard and Pepperdine's company in the Los Angeles bracket:

Defending Champions

USC (33-23) will host its first regional since 1991 and bid for a repeat College World Series championship. In 1998, the No. 14 Trojans used 23 hits and a ninth-inning grand slam by outfielder Jason Lane to dispatch Pac-10 rival Arizona State in a 21-14 slugfest.

The Trojans have maintained that power hitting pace, with 84 home runs this season and five starters in double figures.

Lane is USC's statistical leader once again, batting .365 with 19 home runs and 66 RBI, all team highs. Lane is also slugging .810.

The Trojans were ranked No. 1 in both Baseball America and Baseball Weekly's preseason polls, before a smattering of injuries sapped them early, leading to a 4-11 start. USC had its starting lineup intact for only three of its first 20 games.