Later in the inning, Wallace misjudged a low fly ball to left—“I don’t think he picked it up off the bat right away,” Walsh said—allowing two more runs to score. In the first inning, the Tigers put four runs on the board overall.
Herrmann struck out four in the first three innings, but never quite escaped trouble. Just when he appeared to gain confidence—in the third inning, he coolly rung up Missouri batters Jacob Priday and Tyler Williams—the Tigers bats struck back, as they did with two more two-out runs that inning.
Herrmann also committed two balks in first-and-third situations, both of which led to runs.
“He seemed a little more worried about the runner at first getting the jump,” Walsh said. “Those hurt.”
The Crimson used five pitchers in all. Only Matt Brunnig, who provided ninth-inning relief with the team behind 14-4, converted a 1-2-3 inning during the game. Not once last night did Harvard down all three Titans in a single inning.
Missouri starter Erik Dessau (5-1) got the start in favor of as many as four other probable Tigers starters, and earned the win with five strong innings, allowing four runs—only one was earned—and striking out three.
Freshman centerfielder and San Diego native Matt Vance, making his Southern California homecoming, thrilled a personal cheering section among a smattering of spectators with three of the Crimson’s 14 hits and a run.
In their last career games, seniors Ian Wallace—who went three-for-four—and Mann combined for four hits.
Nonetheless, despite the solid offensive output, Harvard never pulled closer than the 7-3 deficit it faced in inning two.
After the final out, a called third strike against Mann, Harvard shook hands with Missouri and gathered in front of its own dugout for a customary last team meeting.
“I just kind of told them that it’s real easy just to dwell on these and let them linger,” Walsh said. “You’ve got to shake it off.”
As the team packed up and strolled outward, teammates looked back on Goodwin Field for a last time. Some peeked upwards at the cloudless blue sky, dragging their equipment bags behind them.
As Fullerton and Arizona delegations regrouped from tailgating to watch the Goodwin Field nightcap, the handful of Harvard fans present—parents, relatives, friends—casually emptied the stadium.
With that, the Crimson disembarked for Boston.
—Staff writer Alex McPhillips can be reached at rmcphill@fas.harvard.edu.