The gamble didn't work.

Tri-captain Glen Ambrosius singled to left, scoring Italiano from second after a close play at the plate.

Not phased by the call at home, Crimson sophomore catcher Brian Lentz quickly unloaded a throw to first, catching Ambrosius, who had made a wide turn, for the second out.

The intentional walk would come back to haunt the Crimson, however, as Mullen stole third base and scored on an infield single to put the Quakers ahead 7-5.

In the ninth, the Crimson forced extra innings against Penn, when junior John Franey took a 0-2 offering over the wall in right to tie the game 5-5.

With two away and Lentz on third, the Crimson had a chance to win in regulation, but McCreery (3-1), the eventual losing pitcher, would force Harvard to wait, fanning the final Crimson batter.

Carter started the Crimson comeback in the seventh, doubling to the wall in left and scoring Franey from second to cut the lead to one and set up the ninth inning comeback.

Harvard opened the scoring in the first when sophomore shortstop Mark Mager scored from third on a wild pitch.