With Harvard leading 2-0, Seth Gordon reached on an error to open the top of the eighth, then scored when right fielder Lance Salsgiver fielded a base hit by Michael Weiss and his throw skipped into foul territory behind third.

But with the Crimson clinging to a one-run lead and no outs, Joe Walsh brought in his new favorite closer—freshman infielder Steffan Wilson—to face the heart of the Big Red order.

After striking out Brian Kaufman and Conor Kelly (the team’s No. 3 and 4 hitters) to open his relief appearance, Wilson intentionally walked Matt Miller, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. But he was left stranded when Wilson got William Pauly to lineout to centerfield to end the threat.

It was Wilson’s third save of the season.

“Miller hit the ball all around the ballpark on us last year” Walsh said. “It was a little dangerous when they got that winning run over to second, but Coach Hyde made a good move bringing the outfielders in right before [Pauly batted].”

Morgalis—who improved to a team-best 4-0 with the win—got stronger as the game went on.

Still not pitching at 100 percent due to strained ligaments in his left foot, Morgalis didn’t find his slider until about the fifth inning, then retired six straight before sloppy defense took over in the eighth.

“I didn’t get a lot of time to warm up,” Morgalis said. “I think we had some complications with the lunch.”

Salsgiver had three hits, including a double. Junior Zak Farkes, hitting in the DH spot, had a double and a triple. Wallace also added two hits.

Dan Gala (1-2), who allowed two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings, took the loss for Cornell.

HARVARD 3, CORNELL 1

With Herrmann still perfect and the seven-inning game creeping towards its conclusion, his teammates—as tradition dictates—began to avoid him in the dugout. Well, except his roommate Chris Mackey.

“He kept telling me, ‘You won’t. You won’t.’ And I knew exactly what he was talking about,” Herrmann said after the game, grinning. “So I’m going to blame it all on Mackey.”

Despite a walk to open the sixth and a run scoring single two batters later, Herrmann improved to 3-1 with a 1.93 ERA, the best of the Crimson starters.

Herrmann got all the help he would need in the fifth.