Miller and USF redshirt freshman Shane McClanahan went toe-to-toe in the weekend’s only real pitching duel. Both arms went the distance in the seven inning showdown and conceded just six hits apiece.
“I think that was definitely the highlight pitching performance of the weekend, both statistically and just how [Ian] looked,” Hink said. “He looked in rhythm and he threw well for us. We would like the offense to put more run support on him but then, at the same time, they had a lefty who was throwing 91-94 consistently.”
A three-run home run by Villar in the sixth proved to be the difference in a game that sat at 1-0 in favor of the Bulls from the second inning on. Miller had four strikeouts while McClanahan registered 11, including three of freshman left fielder Jake Suddleson.
“It’s great for our pitchers to get that experience, especially for Ian to get to face a lineup like they have, which some would argue might be one of the best in the country right now,” Hink said. “For him to be able to do what he did is a big confidence booster for him and it shows good things for the Ivy League down the road.”
Fallon was the extent of the Crimson offense. The Houston native had three of Harvard’s six hits, including both of its extra-base knocks, and its only run scored.
SOUTH FLORIDA, 8. HARVARD, 2
USF jumped on Harvard sophomore starter Simon Rosenblum-Larson for five runs, with three coming in the the second and two more an inning later. Villar and designated hitter Luke Borders both hit two-run home runs to put the hosts up for good.
“That Friday night game we kind of shot ourself in the foot just as far as some mistakes in the field, we didn’t pitch as well as some other games we’ve played,” Hink said. “They were a team where they would hit pitching mistakes unlike maybe some of the other teams we had played this year where maybe you could get away with missing a pitch here or there.”
The Crimson got on the board in the fourth as sophomore first baseman Patrick McColl singled home classmate Patrick Robinson. Rosenblum-Larson settled down for the second half of his six innings pitched. He allowed just two hits and no runs in his final three innings of work, but his offense did not answer the bell. McColl drove in his second run of the game and his ninth of the season as his single in the eighth plated Skinner.
Right-hander Garrett Rupp was knocked around by the Bulls in the junior’s one and a third innings of work. Rupp retired four of the nine batters that he faced and conceded three runs, three hits, and two walks. The exclamation point came on a Chris Chatfield two-run bomb, the last of three on the afternoon.
—Staff writer Stephen J. Gleason can be reached at stephen.gleason@thecrimson.com.