“We didn’t have that much energy today,” Kregel said. “We just expected to make plays, expected to win, but we need to do more.”

After Harvard failed to put any runs on the board in the bottom of the inning, Dodge was replaced with sophomore pitcher Matt Timoney. Although he threw a wild pitch and hit a batter, Timoney only gave up one run in the fifth.

Following another scoreless inning for the Crimson, Timoney was relieved by junior pitcher Peter Kaplan, who retired three straight before being subbed for senior right-hander Jordan Haviland in the seventh. Haviland gave up one run after an error from the Harvard infield before finishing off the Crusader side.

It was then that the Crimson made its push to get back in the game, but the team ended up stranding Kregel on third to end the three-run seventh inning.

Freshmen pitchers Matt Sanders and Shaun Rubin threw in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, and neither allowed a run. But the damage was already done.

Harvard enters conference play with back-to-back double headers at Columbia and Penn this Saturday and Sunday.

“We have to play like we played [against Houston Baptist],” Decker said. “We have to attack the baseball and work hard to win going forward.”