Crimson Uses Eight-Run Ninth to Earn Split

When traditional rivals face off against one another in the last series of the season on an annual basis, the circumstances of their meeting may change, but the intensity rarely does.

This was true for Harvard baseball this weekend, as it closed out its customary four-game set with Dartmouth yesterday with a riveting doubleheader in Hanover, N.H. Last season, the Crimson was battling for Rolfe Division supremacy heading into the final weekend of the Ivy season, while the Big Green toiled at the bottom of the standings with only respect to play for.

This year, Harvard found itself in the Rolfe Division basement as Dartmouth cruised into the weekend attempting to put a cherry on top of its first-place run. After dropping three consecutive games to the Big Green, the determined Crimson finally assured that it would end its otherwise disappointing Ivy season on a high note.

Harvard lost game one against Dartmouth, 8-4, as senior ace Shawn Haviland struggled against a potent Dartmouth lineup despite remaining on the mound for the length of the contest.

But the Crimson suddenly came alive in the nightcap, clawing its way out of a six-run deficit by posting eight runs in the ninth inning to upset the Big Green, 10-8.

HARVARD 10, DARTMOUTH 8

The Crimson had found itself in this position before: down by a large margin late in the game with all the calls going against it as it stared down the wrong side of a series sweep. But this time, with the assistance of some Big Green relief issues, Harvard refused to accept its fate.

Down 8-2 in the top of the ninth inning, shoddy Dartmouth pitching and defense combined with timely Crimson hits to bring Harvard back into the game, as the team strung together eight runs in the frame to steal the game from the Big Green.

Dartmouth pitcher Bobby Steinsdoerfer failed to find the strike zone on a consistent basis, and when he did the Crimson had his number. A walk, two wild pitches, a pair of hit batters, and five Harvard hits led to six runs, as the Crimson chased Steinsdoerfer.

Reliever Kyle Zeis did not fare much better. The Dartmouth hurler mimicked his predecessor in terms of control problems, tossing two wild pitches of his own en route to Harvard tying the game. Then, as freshman Thomas Zollo came up to bat, Zeis finally found the plate, but with devastating results for the Big Green. Zollo laced a 1-1 pitch to right center, scoring freshman Sean O’Hara and junior Jared Wortzman and giving the Crimson a 10-8 lead.

After the game, captain Matt Vance expressed interest in seeing where Zollo’s bat takes him in the future.

“He’s a very solid hitter,” Vance said. “He’s got a real nice lefty swing. He’s definitely going to get a chance to play. I think [Harvard is] going to need his bat.”

In the bottom of the inning, rookie Daniel Berardo came in for the Crimson and finished off the game with a 1-2-3 inning and a pair of strikeouts.

DARTMOUTH 8, HARVARD 4

Despite having its ace on the mound, the Crimson was knocked out of contention early in game one.

Haviland allowed eight runs in a complete game effort, giving up 16 hits despite seven strikeouts in what is likely the final start of his collegiate career.

“I guess it’s tough to go out with a loss,” Haviland said. “I did the best I could today. I guess it was a tough way to end.”

Vance and fellow senior Matt Kramer provided some pop for the Harvard lineup in the first game, with each player smashing a home run in the final Ivy League doubleheader of their careers.

Vance went deep in the top of the fifth and Kramer followed an inning later. A career .254 hitter coming into this season, Kramer posted a .320 batting average with three homers and 16 RBI this year.

“He’s a kid who works hard every day,” Haviland said. “In our class over four years he’s gotten better than any of us.”

—Staff writer Loren Amor can be reached at lamor@fas.harvard.edu.