Breslow had entered the weekend with the league’s lowest ERA (1.67). On Saturday, though, the Harvard hitters were patient with Breslow and it paid off. During the Crimson’s five-run fourth inning, the team drew three consecutive walks, all on 3-2 counts.

The last of the free passes—earned by Sheffield after falling behind 0-2 in the count—came with the bases loaded and forced in a run.

Mager, Hendricks and Lopez all singled to score the other four runs.

“We knew we needed to get into bullpens more and force starters to throw more,” Mann said. “It worked out well because Breslow’s a pretty good pitcher and we made him throw a lot of pitches.”

Breslow lasted all seven innings on Saturday, but Duke’s two-run homer off Nyweide in the seventh was all the scoring Yale could manage after the third.

Harvard 4, Yale 3

at Yale Field, New Haven, Conn.

Harvard (12-18, 9-3) 000 031 000—4 10 1

Yale (8-21, 3-9) 000 020 001—3 5 0

2B: H Kropf 1, Mager 1, Shakir 1. Y Duke 1. Pitchers: H Hendricks W 1-2. (4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 K), Wahlberg (S 2). Y Elias 2-3 (5.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 K).

Attendance: 181

Harvard 6, Yale 0

at Yale Field, New Haven, Conn.

Harvard (11-18, 8-3) 420 000 0—6 10 0