Despite strong performances from seniors Ben Crockett and Mark Mager, the Harvard baseball team was swept by No. 4 Rice in a three-game series to open its season this weekend.

Crockett, who returns to Harvard (0-3) after another stellar summer in the Cape Cod League, pitched eight innings in a 2-1 loss on Saturday, holding the Owls (18-4) to their lowest offensive output of the season.

Mager led the Crimson offense, picking up two hits in each of the three games and going 6-for-13 on the weekend.

Rice 13, Harvard 3

After being shut out by Crimson starter Barry Wahlberg (0-1) in the first two innings, the Owls broke out with six runs in the third.

The inning was highlighted by a two-run triple by first baseman Vincent Sinisi that knocked Wahlberg out of the game. Wahlberg was charged with five earned runs on four hits in the loss.

Rice stretched the lead to 10-0 before Harvard broke onto the scoreboard.

With two outs and senior third baseman Nick Carter on first after being hit by a pitch, sophomore catcher Mickey Kropf and sophomore first baseman March Hordon rapped consecutive singles to load the bases.

Senior center fielder Andrew Brunswick was then hit by a pitch from Bubba Gentry to force Carter home.

Freshman catcher Schuyler Mann then grounded a ball to third baseman Hunter Brown, who threw the ball away, allowing both Kropf and Hordon to score.

Rice hurler Phillip Humber held the Crimson scoreless on just five hits over the first six innings to earn the victory.

Kropf, Mager and senior left fielder Javy Lopez each registered two hits.

Rice 2, Harvard 1

The Crimson stayed close behind a solid eight-inning performance from Crockett (0-1), a preseason third-team All American, before falling to the Owls in the second game of Saturday’s double header.

With the score tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth, designated hitter Chris Kolkhast doubled to right field to drive in Mike Lorbasch and give Rice the eventual winning run.