Variety of Causes Contribute to Preseason Losses

Time to head north.

Harvard concluded its equivalent of spring training on Thursday with an uninspiring overall record of 4-8, after dropping six of eight games on its recent seven-day getaway to Florida.

Head coach Joe Walsh used the road trip to tinker with his batting order and vet candidates for the everyday lineup and regular starting rotation.

“I’m looking for somebody to take a job out there, whether it’s an infielder or an outfielder,” Walsh said. ”We’ve just been moving different guys in and out and trying to do it.”

Throughout the series of losses, no one single aspect stuck out as Harvard’s undoing. One day, the bullpen faltered; another, the defense collapsed; and on a third, the bats went quiet.

However, the Crimson was boosted by standout play from some of its most uncertain positions, with several youngsters proving themselves worthy of the starting jobs they were penciled in for during the preseason. New shortstop Jeff Stoeckel had a hot trip at the plate on top of his ever-solid glove work, freshman slugger Andrew Prince displayed his middle-of-the-order power, and junior right-hander Brad Unger delivered the best pitching performance of his collegiate career.

HARVARD 10, BARRY 5

The Crimson ended its trip with a bang, rapping out 16 hits en route to an easy 10-5 win over Barry (18-19). Seven of the starters had multiple hits, led by Stoeckel (3-for-5) and sophomore Matt Rogers (three RBI), as Harvard posted crooked numbers in the third, fifth, and seventh innings.

Utility man Max Warren got the start, allowing just one unearned run in four innings. Sophomore Adam Cole struggled in relief, throwing just nine of 23 pitches for strikes and allowing three runs.

“We’re hoping Cole comes around, but right now, he’s a long way away from being ready,” Walsh said.

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 13, HARVARD 6

Florida International (15-15) blew open the game with a five-run fifth inning in a 13-6 drubbing of the Crimson. Three Harvard pitchers allowed at least four runs apiece.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC 10, HARVARD 9

Captain Brendan Byrne and junior right fielder Tom Stack-Babich each went 3-for-5 to pace the Harvard offense, but junior ace Shawn Haviland spotted the Owls (21-10) an early lead and closer Steffan Wilson could not nail down the save in the Crimson’s second 10-9 loss in the span of four days. Once again, the Crimson brought a 9-7 lead into the final frame, but its bullpen failed to preserve the win.

Byrne drove in three runs and Stack-Babich and rookie Dan Zailskas (2-for-4) tallied two RBI apiece.

“We showed real strong offense down there,” freshman pitcher Max Perlman said. “We were hitting good pitching. [Our] pitching still needs a little work.”

Rookie Eric Eadington, however, was stellar in his six innings of long relief, surrendering only one run and striking out seven.

CENTRAL FLORIDA 7, HARVARD 3

Perlman, appearing near his hometown of Longwood, Fla., could not replicate the success of his first career outing, as he let up six runs in 5 2/3 on a collection of seven hits and two walks in a loss to Central Florida (16-16). Perlman made headlines with 4 2/3 innings of shutout relief against Notre Dame on March 12.

Stoeckel posted his second multi-hit game of the trip and drove in a run.

HARVARD 5, ECKERD 1

Unger made a compelling case for a spot in the weekend rotation with a complete-game win over Eckerd (13-14).

The right-hander went the distance, scattering four hits and allowing just one unearned run.

“Unger pushed himself into the weekend role,” Walsh said decisively.

TAMPA 11, HARVARD 0

Adam Cole’s sophomore slump continued as the Crimson was shut out in its second loss to the Spartans (29-6) this season. Cole walked six and was tagged for six runs in 5 1/3 innings while receiving no run support from an inconsistent Harvard offense.

“I’m going in there keeping my fingers crossed, making that lineup up each day,” Walsh said. “I’m sitting on it all night trying to make something work, and we just can’t seem to get it going.”

NORTHWESTERN 10, HARVARD 9

After Harvard surged ahead with a late-inning rally, the bullpen blew a 9-7 edge in the ninth against the Wildcats (6-13).

The Crimson picked up four runs in the eighth and three in the ninth to take its first lead of the game.

But in the home half of the inning, Jason Brown loaded the bases with nobody out, and Unger gave up a two-run double, re-loaded the bases with an intentional walk, and then hit a batter to force in the winning run.

OHIO STATE 5, HARVARD 3

The Crimson matched up with Buckeyes ace Cory Luebke in the first game of its Sunshine State swing and was flummoxed by the pro prospect for six innings, managing only two hits.

“We’ve been seeing a lot of velocity guys,” Walsh said of the wealth of power arms his team encountered on its trip.

Meanwhile, Ohio State (16-4) touched Harvard’s No. 1, Haviland, for 12 hits as it built a 5-0 lead.

The Crimson only rallied against closer Jake Hale, who had blanked Dartmouth for two-plus innings in a game earlier that day. Harvard put two runners on in the ninth before pinch hitter Prince strode to the plate and launched a three-run homer to right field.

After another base hit, the Crimson had the tying run at the plate, but Hale retired pinch hitter Taylor Meehan to end it.

—Staff writer Jonathan Lehman can be reached at jlehman@fas.harvard.edu.