Junior Javy Castellanos relieved Morgalis in the seventh and recorded three shutout innings, continuing his resurgence after a rough opening-day loss against Louisiana-Lafayette.

“Him pitching well is huge for us,” Salsgiver said. “We have a lot of confidence in him. We know he’ll keep the ball around the plate, mix speeds and pitches. We weren’t surprised by his performance.”

Harvard will face off at Penn tomorrow for a double-header starting at 12 p.m.

HARVARD 5, COLUMBIA 3

While the elder statesmen in Castellanos and Morgalis held down Columbia in the second game, it was a pair of freshmen who stepped up to shut down the Lions in the first.

First-year slugger Steffan Wilson collected three RBI on two hits as the top of the Crimson order scored all five runs in a 5-3 Harvard victory.

Classmate Shawn Haviland, meanwhile, took his turn on the mound and allowed three runs in 5 1/3 stingy innings to earn the win.

Still, the freshman class—and that pair, in particular—wasn’t done.

In just the second pitching appearance of his Crimson career, it was Wilson—previously known solely for his hitting prowess—who came in to clean up after Haviland and sophomore Jason Brown, getting four clutch outs with men on base to record the save. He struck out two.

“Haviland’s one of our best pitchers already,” Salsgiver said. “He throws hard, throws a good curveball and changeup, and throws all three for strikes.

“Steffan, we knew him more as a great hitter than a pitcher, but he came in with a tight situation with runners on and got the last out.”

So does this performance help settle Harvard’s yet-undecided closer situation? Probably not. Despite Wilson’s sterling effort, head coach Joe Walsh has already found success with junior Matt Brunnig in a similar relief role this year, and Salsgiver—last year’s closer on opening day—also remains in the mix.

That last candidate, however, who is currently dealing with a pulled muscle in his elbow, would bet on Brunnig in the present if he had to.

“I need rest to make sure my injury gets better, and I haven’t had that,” Salsgiver said. “If I get healthy, hopefully I can come in and fill that role. Right now, I’d have to name Matt Brunnig.”