Freshman Garrett Rupp replaced his classmate with one down in the seventh but uncorked a wild pitch to give UMass a 6-5 lead it would not relinquish. Despite a scoreless eighth inning from Rupp, Harvard was unable to get a run across in its half of the eighth or ninth to extend the game.

“I’m just thankful to have the opportunity to be out there trying to get the team a win,” Rupp said. “Each time you have a good outing, it gives the staff more confidence.”

Fallon doubled to lead off the eighth and advanced to third on a wild pitch, putting pressure on Minutemen pitcher Evan Mackintosh. But the Crimson would fail to take advantage. Left fielder Jack Colton and captain Ethan Ferreira both struck out swinging to end the threat.

Missed opportunities sealed Harvard’s fate at Earl Lorden Field. The Crimson stranded 12 runners on the day, compared to just three on behalf of UMass.

Harvard would strand another runner in the top of the ninth, failing to plate the tying run to force extras. Minutemen sophomore Mike Geannelis worked around a hit-by-pitch to pick up his second save of the season and send UMass to its fourth consecutive Beanpot final.

The loss was Harvard’s fourth in its last six games. The team has played in three consecutive one-run games over the course of the past three days ,winning only one of them.

The Crimson now finds itself in the consolation game for the second time in three years. Combs was tagged with his second loss of the season for Harvard. The left side of the Crimson’s infield combined for four of Harvard’s nine hits and two RBIs. The Crimson’s .500 mark through 32 games is still the team’s best since 2007.

—Staff writer Stephen J. Gleason can be reached at sgleason@college.harvard.edu.