Northeastern Deals Batmen First Loss On Four-Hitter in Twinbill Opener

No lightning struck, no thunder rumbled and the earth didn't swallow up the Soldiers Field pitcher's mound. Except for a momentary dazzle, the sky refused to fall Even the second game went on as scheduled.

No, the world didn't end shortly after 3:30 p.m. yesterday, when the Harvard baseball team dropped its first game of the 1984 season, 5-1 to Northeastern. In fact, the Crimson--now 7-1 overall, 3-1 in the Greater Boston League (GBL)--bounced back to take the nightcap, 6-1, in a game shortened to six innings because of darkness.

The Huskies are now 9-5 overall, 1-3 in the GBI.

"You can't expect to win all 35 [games]," said Crimson starter Jeff Musselman, who could have expected a win from his five-hitter in the opener.

Musselman almost did get his second victory of the year, but a throwing error allowed the Huskies to tie the game in the sixth inning and drive the game, which was scheduled for seven, into extra innings.

It was the first time this season that Harvard scored fewer than seven runs in a game. The credit belongs to Husky righthander Bill O'Leary, who allowed just four hits as he stretched his record to 3-0. Harvard had nothing to be ashamed of, because O'Leary is hot. The senior hurler has now yielded just 13 hits and one earned run in 23 innings of work.

But Musselman still should have beaten him, 1-0. Harvard took the lead when center fielder Bruce Weller stroked a two-out single in the fifth, stole second and scored on third baseman Bobby Kay's hit.

Northeastern center fielder Juan Craft retaliated with a single to lead off the next inning. Musselman had him picked off, but first baseman Elliott Rivera's throw to second went wild and Craft wound up on third Sophomore Jim Mealey's suicide squeeze brought Craft home with the tying run.

After the Crimson stranded Kay at second in the bottom of the eighth, Musselman walked O'Leary to lead off the Husky ninth Paul DiPillo sacrificed O'Leary to second, and then Northeastern got the break it needed With one ball and two strikes on first baseman Dan Spotts, Musselman's pitch went into the dirt. Spotts swung and missed, the pitch went wild, O'Leary moved to third and Sports reached first after the wild third strike get by catcher Jim DePalo.

Right fielder Gary Nelson doubled in the go-ahead run, Musselman gave shortstop Mike McGillis, an intentional pass and Spotts scored on third baseman Chris Buras's fly to right. The Crimson tried to catch Nelson taking third on the play, but Chris Schindler's relay sailed over Kay's glove and Nelson scored. Craft's single to left gave Northeastern a four-run margin.

Musselman threw a strike to catcher Terry O'Malley, then left the game with a popped blister. Reliever George Sorbara threw just one pitch--a strike--before DePalo ended the inning by gunning down Craft, who was attempting to steal second.

Harvard went one-two-three in the ninth.

Freshman hurler Mike Presz picked up his second collegiate win in the nightcap. Presz scattered six hits for just one run, while the Crimson bats came back to life. Harvard picked up a run in the first on a Weller single to right, a Kay sacrifice bunt and a Rivera single to left.

Determination

Northeastern tied it in the third. McGillis singled and Craft sacrificed him to second, McGillis moved to third on a grounder to the right side of the infield. Then Presz threw a wild pitch and the score was 1-1.

Singles by Mickey Maspons, Tony DiCesare and Gaylord Lyman got Harvard a 2-1 lead and two runners on in the fourth. An intentional walk to Weller loaded the bases, McGillis bobbled Kay's grounder to short, and Harvard led by two.

The Crimson added three more in the fifth off singles by Rivera, Scott Vierra and Gaylord Lyman and bunts by Maspons and Paul Vallone.

Musselman said neither the blister nor the 8 2/3 innings of work would hinder his pitching in the first game of Harvard's twinbill with Princeton Sunday. "It was just a little blister," he said. "I knew it was going to break sooner or later."

Charlie Marchese and Chris Marchok will face Navy when Harvard's Eastern League season starts Saturday. Presz will pitch the nightcap Sunday. Huskies 5, Crimson 1 NORTHEASTERN   ab  r  h  bl Craltct  5  1  3  1 O'Malley c  3  0  0  0 Meeley 2b  2  0  0  1 O'Leary dh  2  1  0  0 DiPillo If  3  0  0  0 Spotts 1b  4  1  0  0 Nelson rf  3  1  1  1 McGillis ss  3  1  1  0 Buras 3b  2  0  0  1 Total  27  5  5  4 Northeastern  27  5  5  4 Harvard

HARVARD   ab  r  h  bl Weller of  4  1  1  0 Kay 3b  4  0  2  1 DePalo c  3  0  1  0 Rivera 1b  2  0  0  0 Maspons dh  4  0  0  0 Vierra If  3  0  0  0 DiCesaress  4  0  0  0 Lymant 2b  2  0  0  0 Vallone rf  3  0  0  0 Schindler 1b  1  0  0  0 McAndrews pr  0  0  0  0 Nugent 2b  0  0  0  0 Total  30  1  4  1   000  001  004-5   000  010  000-1

Game-Winning RBI-Nelson, E-O'Leary, DiPillo, Sptts, Rivera, Schindler. DP-Harvard 1, Northeastern 1, LOB-Harvard 6, Massachusetts 5, 2B-Nelson, DePalo, SB-Kay, Weller, DePalo, CS-Rivera, Craft. S-DiPillo, Buras, Mealey, SF-Buras.   IP  H  ER  BB  SO Northeastern O'Leary W, 3-0  9  4  1  1  4  4 Harvard Musselman L, 1-1  8 2/3  5  5  4  5  7 Sorbara  1/3  0  0  0  0  0

HBP-O'Malley by Musselman. WP-O'Leary, Musselman.

T-2:35. A-14. Crimson 6, Huskies 1 NORTHEASTERN   ab  r  h  bi Craft of  2  0  1  0 O'Malley dh  3  0  1  0 Mealey 2b  2  0  0  0 O'Leary 3b  2  0  1  0 Cagnini If  3  0  2  0 DiPillo c  3  0  0  0 Spotts 1b  3  0  0  0 Griffin rf  3  0  0  0 McGillis ss  2  1  1  0 Total  23  1  6  0 Northeastern Harvard

Game-Winning RBI-DiCesare. E-Kay, McGfillis, Curtin. DP-Harvard 1, LOB-Harvard 7, Northeastern 7, 2B-Craft. SB-Rivera, Lyman. S-Craft, Kay 2, DiCesare, Maspons, Vallone. HARVARD   ab  r  h  bl Weller of  2  1  1  0 Kay 3b  1  0  0  0 DePalo c  3  0  0  0 Rivera 1b  3  1  2  1 Maspons dh  2  2  1  0 Vierra If  3  1  2  1 DiCasare ss  2  1  1  1 Lymant 2b  3  0  2  1 Vallone rf  2  0  0  1 Total  21  6  9  5   001  000-1   100  23x-6

Game-Winning RBI-DiCesare. E-Kay, McGillis, Curtin. DP-Harvard 1, LOB-Harvard 7, Northeastern 7, 2B-Craft. SB-Rivera, Lyman. S-Craft, Kay 2, DiCesare, Maspons, Vallone   IP  H  R  ER  BB  SO Northeastern Curtin L, 1-2  5  9  6  5  2  1 Harvard Presz W, 2-0  6  6  1  1  2  4

WP-Presz.

T--1":29. A-14.

HARVARD   ab  r  h  bl Weller of  4  1  1  0 Kay 3b  4  0  2  1 DePalo c  3  0  1  0 Rivera 1b  2  0  0  0 Maspons dh  4  0  0  0 Vierra If  3  0  0  0 DiCesaress  4  0  0  0 Lymant 2b  2  0  0  0 Vallone rf  3  0  0  0 Schindler 1b  1  0  0  0 McAndrews pr  0  0  0  0 Nugent 2b  0  0  0  0 Total  30  1  4  1   000  001  004-5   000  010  000-1

Game-Winning RBI-Nelson, E-O'Leary, DiPillo, Sptts, Rivera, Schindler. DP-Harvard 1, Northeastern 1, LOB-Harvard 6, Massachusetts 5, 2B-Nelson, DePalo, SB-Kay, Weller, DePalo, CS-Rivera, Craft. S-DiPillo, Buras, Mealey, SF-Buras.   IP  H  ER  BB  SO Northeastern O'Leary W, 3-0  9  4  1  1  4  4 Harvard Musselman L, 1-1  8 2/3  5  5  4  5  7 Sorbara  1/3  0  0  0  0  0

HBP-O'Malley by Musselman. WP-O'Leary, Musselman.

T-2:35. A-14. Crimson 6, Huskies 1 NORTHEASTERN   ab  r  h  bi Craft of  2  0  1  0 O'Malley dh  3  0  1  0 Mealey 2b  2  0  0  0 O'Leary 3b  2  0  1  0 Cagnini If  3  0  2  0 DiPillo c  3  0  0  0 Spotts 1b  3  0  0  0 Griffin rf  3  0  0  0 McGillis ss  2  1  1  0 Total  23  1  6  0 Northeastern Harvard

Game-Winning RBI-DiCesare. E-Kay, McGfillis, Curtin. DP-Harvard 1, LOB-Harvard 7, Northeastern 7, 2B-Craft. SB-Rivera, Lyman. S-Craft, Kay 2, DiCesare, Maspons, Vallone. HARVARD   ab  r  h  bl Weller of  2  1  1  0 Kay 3b  1  0  0  0 DePalo c  3  0  0  0 Rivera 1b  3  1  2  1 Maspons dh  2  2  1  0 Vierra If  3  1  2  1 DiCasare ss  2  1  1  1 Lymant 2b  3  0  2  1 Vallone rf  2  0  0  1 Total  21  6  9  5   001  000-1   100  23x-6

Game-Winning RBI-DiCesare. E-Kay, McGillis, Curtin. DP-Harvard 1, LOB-Harvard 7, Northeastern 7, 2B-Craft. SB-Rivera, Lyman. S-Craft, Kay 2, DiCesare, Maspons, Vallone   IP  H  R  ER  BB  SO Northeastern Curtin L, 1-2  5  9  6  5  2  1 Harvard Presz W, 2-0  6  6  1  1  2  4

WP-Presz.

T--1":29. A-14.

Game-Winning RBI-Nelson, E-O'Leary, DiPillo, Sptts, Rivera, Schindler. DP-Harvard 1, Northeastern 1, LOB-Harvard 6, Massachusetts 5, 2B-Nelson, DePalo, SB-Kay, Weller, DePalo, CS-Rivera, Craft. S-DiPillo, Buras, Mealey, SF-Buras.   IP  H  ER  BB  SO Northeastern O'Leary W, 3-0  9  4  1  1  4  4 Harvard Musselman L, 1-1  8 2/3  5  5  4  5  7 Sorbara  1/3  0  0  0  0  0

HBP-O'Malley by Musselman. WP-O'Leary, Musselman.

T-2:35. A-14. Crimson 6, Huskies 1 NORTHEASTERN   ab  r  h  bi Craft of  2  0  1  0 O'Malley dh  3  0  1  0 Mealey 2b  2  0  0  0 O'Leary 3b  2  0  1  0 Cagnini If  3  0  2  0 DiPillo c  3  0  0  0 Spotts 1b  3  0  0  0 Griffin rf  3  0  0  0 McGillis ss  2  1  1  0 Total  23  1  6  0 Northeastern Harvard

Game-Winning RBI-DiCesare. E-Kay, McGfillis, Curtin. DP-Harvard 1, LOB-Harvard 7, Northeastern 7, 2B-Craft. SB-Rivera, Lyman. S-Craft, Kay 2, DiCesare, Maspons, Vallone. HARVARD   ab  r  h  bl Weller of  2  1  1  0 Kay 3b  1  0  0  0 DePalo c  3  0  0  0 Rivera 1b  3  1  2  1 Maspons dh  2  2  1  0 Vierra If  3  1  2  1 DiCasare ss  2  1  1  1 Lymant 2b  3  0  2  1 Vallone rf  2  0  0  1 Total  21  6  9  5   001  000-1   100  23x-6

Game-Winning RBI-DiCesare. E-Kay, McGillis, Curtin. DP-Harvard 1, LOB-Harvard 7, Northeastern 7, 2B-Craft. SB-Rivera, Lyman. S-Craft, Kay 2, DiCesare, Maspons, Vallone   IP  H  R  ER  BB  SO Northeastern Curtin L, 1-2  5  9  6  5  2  1 Harvard Presz W, 2-0  6  6  1  1  2  4

WP-Presz.

T--1":29. A-14.

HBP-O'Malley by Musselman. WP-O'Leary, Musselman.

T-2:35. A-14. Crimson 6, Huskies 1 NORTHEASTERN   ab  r  h  bi Craft of  2  0  1  0 O'Malley dh  3  0  1  0 Mealey 2b  2  0  0  0 O'Leary 3b  2  0  1  0 Cagnini If  3  0  2  0 DiPillo c  3  0  0  0 Spotts 1b  3  0  0  0 Griffin rf  3  0  0  0 McGillis ss  2  1  1  0 Total  23  1  6  0 Northeastern Harvard

Game-Winning RBI-DiCesare. E-Kay, McGfillis, Curtin. DP-Harvard 1, LOB-Harvard 7, Northeastern 7, 2B-Craft. SB-Rivera, Lyman. S-Craft, Kay 2, DiCesare, Maspons, Vallone. HARVARD   ab  r  h  bl Weller of  2  1  1  0 Kay 3b  1  0  0  0 DePalo c  3  0  0  0 Rivera 1b  3  1  2  1 Maspons dh  2  2  1  0 Vierra If  3  1  2  1 DiCasare ss  2  1  1  1 Lymant 2b  3  0  2  1 Vallone rf  2  0  0  1 Total  21  6  9  5   001  000-1   100  23x-6

Game-Winning RBI-DiCesare. E-Kay, McGillis, Curtin. DP-Harvard 1, LOB-Harvard 7, Northeastern 7, 2B-Craft. SB-Rivera, Lyman. S-Craft, Kay 2, DiCesare, Maspons, Vallone   IP  H  R  ER  BB  SO Northeastern Curtin L, 1-2  5  9  6  5  2  1 Harvard Presz W, 2-0  6  6  1  1  2  4

WP-Presz.

T--1":29. A-14.

Game-Winning RBI-DiCesare. E-Kay, McGfillis, Curtin. DP-Harvard 1, LOB-Harvard 7, Northeastern 7, 2B-Craft. SB-Rivera, Lyman. S-Craft, Kay 2, DiCesare, Maspons, Vallone. HARVARD   ab  r  h  bl Weller of  2  1  1  0 Kay 3b  1  0  0  0 DePalo c  3  0  0  0 Rivera 1b  3  1  2  1 Maspons dh  2  2  1  0 Vierra If  3  1  2  1 DiCasare ss  2  1  1  1 Lymant 2b  3  0  2  1 Vallone rf  2  0  0  1 Total  21  6  9  5   001  000-1   100  23x-6

Game-Winning RBI-DiCesare. E-Kay, McGillis, Curtin. DP-Harvard 1, LOB-Harvard 7, Northeastern 7, 2B-Craft. SB-Rivera, Lyman. S-Craft, Kay 2, DiCesare, Maspons, Vallone   IP  H  R  ER  BB  SO Northeastern Curtin L, 1-2  5  9  6  5  2  1 Harvard Presz W, 2-0  6  6  1  1  2  4

WP-Presz.

T--1":29. A-14.

Game-Winning RBI-DiCesare. E-Kay, McGillis, Curtin. DP-Harvard 1, LOB-Harvard 7, Northeastern 7, 2B-Craft. SB-Rivera, Lyman. S-Craft, Kay 2, DiCesare, Maspons, Vallone   IP  H  R  ER  BB  SO Northeastern Curtin L, 1-2  5  9  6  5  2  1 Harvard Presz W, 2-0  6  6  1  1  2  4

WP-Presz.

T--1":29. A-14.

WP-Presz.

T--1":29. A-14.