If Walsh needs to, he may even give rookie right fielder Lance Salsgiver his first collegiate mound time.

“He got on the mound the other day and looked pretty sharp,” Walsh said. “He got a lot of ‘oohs’ and aahs.’ You never know.”

It’s the second straight year that an injury has left the Crimson without a game four starter for Dartmouth. Last year, then-sophomore Marc Hordon sprained his shoulder sliding into third base during the first game of the series, leaving a gaping hole at his spot in the rotation.

In his place, Walsh sent Hendricks to the mound for his first Ivy start, a 4-3 Harvard loss that left the Crimson in a tie with Brown for the division title.

Harvard hopes its won’t come to that this season. By Sunday’s nightcap, Harvard may have already clinched an ICS berth.

Walsh says he will use his pitching staff aggressively on Saturday, even throwing projected game three starter Kenon Ronz out of the bullpen if necessary. Senior closer Barry Wahlberg, who has taken a week off while nursing a blister on his throwing hand, will also be available.

The Red Rolfe winner will most likely face Princeton for the Ivy title, which needs only a single victory to clinch the Lou Gehrig division title.

—Staff writer Lande A. Spottswood can be reached at spottsw@fas.harvard.edu.