Host Jacksonville State Sweeps All Four Games Against Crimson

After losing its first two games of the season by a wide margin on Friday, the Harvard men’s baseball team fought back on Sunday but fell to Jacksonville State in two nail-biting losses.

The Crimson (0-4) played two double-headers against the Gamecocks (7-3) at Rudy Abbott Field in Jacksonville, Ala., with Harvard hoping to start the season off on a strong note.

“We wanted to gain some momentum to boost our confidence going into next week for Spring Break when we are playing every day,” captain Tyler Albright said. “We did some things right, and we did some things wrong. Now we know what we need to work on. It’s real tough coming home after losing four games, but we have some time in the bubble to practice this week before we go into Spring Break.”

JACKSONVILLE STATE 5, HARVARD 4

A late rally in the sixth inning fell short as the Crimson lost the last game of the series against Jacksonville State.

In the top of the sixth down 5-2, Harvard made a charge. The inning started with Albright being hit by a pitch, followed up by a triple to center field from junior Marcus Way, which brought Albright home.

Junior Jeff Reynolds had an RBI single to bring the Crimson back within one, putting the tying run on first and no outs.

But Harvard could not score another run after freshman Jake McGuiggan grounded into a double play to end the frame.

Junior Todd Hornsby ended up shutting down the Crimson in the seventh and final inning to pick up his third save of the series, and the Gamecocks swept the weekend, four games to none.

JACKSONVILLE STATE 5, HARVARD 4

Harvard dropped the first game of Sunday’s double-header in a close 5-4 loss. From the start of the game, neither side was able to pull away.

The Crimson scored two runs in the third, with McGuiggan crossing home on a wild pitch, and O’Neill following right after on a RBI groundout from senior Sam Franklin. But Jacksonville State responded in the bottom of the frame with a two-run double from first baseman Erik Underwood.

With the score tied at four apiece entering the bottom of the eighth, senior Blake Seguin tripled to put the winning run for the Gamecocks 90-feet away with only one out, and a Bishop sac-fly put the home team ahead for good.

Hornsby came into close the game and ended up striking out the side to ensure victory for Jacksonville State.

Freshman Bradley Raulston earned the win, while junior Will Keuper got the loss despite only giving up one run in three innings.

JACKSONVILLE STATE 8, HARVARD 4

Harvard came out strong to start the second game by tallying three runs in the first but ended up falling to the Gamecocks, 8-4, in the second game on Friday.

Albright and sophomore Danny Moskovits started the two-out rally in the first with consecutive singles. Reynolds followed with a walk to load the bases. In the ensuing at-bat, Way walked and pushed Albright home. Right fielder Andrew Hatch continued the rally by singling in Moskovits and Reynolds.

The Crimson tallied another run in the third on a Hatch single, making the score 4-1 Harvard. Hatch had four hits and three RBIs in the game.

Jacksonville State came back in the bottom of the third inning, scoring two runs on RBI singles from junior Sam Eberle and senior Matt McLaughlin.

Franklin limited the damage by throwing out Eberle at the plate on the McLaughlin single, keeping the score in Harvard’s favor, 4-3.

The home team tied the game in the fifth on a double from freshman Coty Blanchard and took the lead for good on a fielder’s choice.

Blanchard and Segiun led the Gamecocks to victory, with Blanchard recording four hits and Seguin tallying three runs. Jacksonville State’s strong relief pitching held the Crimson scoreless over the final six innings, sealing the deal for the home team.

JACKSONVILLE STATE 6, HARVARD 1

In the first game of the series, Harvard succumbed to the solid pitching performance of senior Jordan Beistine and junior Tanner Freshour. The duo combined to give up only one unearned run and three hits.

Blanchard led the charge for the Gamecocks’ offense, scoring four runs on two hits, including a solo home run.

The Crimson only plated one run, with Moskovits scoring on a McGuiggan sacrifice fly. But Harvard could not capitalize on the rest of its chances, stranding 10 runners on base.

“There were a bunch of excuses as to why we didn’t do well,” junior Brent Suter said. “But it came down to them executing a little better and getting those extra runs. We struggled, but we still think we are fine in terms of the season. It was the first weekend. By the time we get an Ivy [game], we feel we [will] make those adjustments and eliminate those mistakes and come out on top.”