The Metrodome Classic may have just hosted four soon-to-be conference champions.
Facing off against arguably the best teams from three different conferences—No. 19 Louisiana-Lafayette, St. John’s, and Minnesota—the Harvard baseball team held its own, going 2-1 to open its season in Minneapolis this weekend.
“It was nice to go out there and see what we have,” junior Frank Herrmann said. “When you’re playing indoors it can be tough to tell, but we went out there and showed that we can play with some good teams. I think they underestimated us a little bit going in.”
Harvard rebounded from a tough opening loss to ULL to sweep its final two games over defending Big-10 champ Minnesota and 2004 NCAA Tourney team St. John’s, an early favorite in the Big East.
HARVARD 9, MINNESOTA 1
On Saturday, the freshmen stole the spotlight. But on Sunday, the veterans snatched it back.
Led by a 5-for-5 performance from captain Schuyler Mann and six strong innings from Herrmann, the Crimson coasted to a 9-1 win over the host Golden Gophers (2-7) yesterday.
“We didn’t score much the first two games and our big hitters hadn’t been hitting,” Herrmann said. “But those guys, Sky and Lance [Salsgiver] and Zak [Farkes], they are such good hitters that I knew it was only a matter of time.”
The time came in the top of the second.
After Salsgiver reached on a fielder’s choice, Rob Wheeler—a Minneapolis native kicking off his senior season in his hometown—singled to put runners on the corners for Steffan Wilson. The freshman launched a ball into the gap in right center for a two-RBI triple.
That was all the offense Herrmann (1-0) would need. The right-hander—the only weekend starter from last season to get a start in the Metrodome Classic—pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only four hits while striking out five. He was relieved by junior Matt Brunnig, who allowed one run on two hits in three innings of work.
A pair of doubles by Mann and junior Josh Klimkiewicz gave Harvard a 3-0 lead in the third, and the Crimson pulled away in the fourth on an RBI single by Farkes followed by a two-RBI single by Mann.
Josh Oslin (0-2) took the loss for the Gophers.
HARVARD 3, ST. JOHN’S 2
Behind an impressive mound debut from freshman Shawn Haviland, Harvard squeaked past St. John’s 3-2 to pick up its first win of the season.
