Crimson Nine Shades Brandeis, 5-4

The Harvard baseball team maintained its undefeated status in the Greater Boston League by edging a punchless but scrappy Brandeis nine, 5-4. Starter Sandy Weissant left the game with a seemingly safe lead in the fifth inning, only to watch a succession of errors whittle away the results of his strong performance.

The Crimson began its effort to win in a runaway early, as Vince McGugan singled, stole second, and Toby Harvey drove him across with the opening run. Larry Barbiaux drew a walk, and Mike Thomas lifted a two-run home run over the left field fence to give Harvard a 3-0 bulge.

Thomas had one of his finest games for the Crimson, driving in three runs and contributing the fielding gem of the afternoon by stabbing a liner between third and shortstop. McGugan provided the leading plate performance, going three for three and scoring each time he reached base. His single in the fourth also drove in Tim Bilodeau with what proved to be the winning run.

The Judges could manage only one run off Weissant in five innings, and it came in the fourth on back-to-back singles and a fielder's choice. Art Serrano and McGugan were unable to convert a ground ball into a double play, and on the next identical play a questionable call at first cost Weissant his shutout.

Barry Malinowski relieved a tiring Weissant in the sixth, and hurled two strong innings. Tom O'Neill took the mound for only one third of an inning in the eighth as a walk, an error, another walk and a fielder's choice scored one run.

With the bases loaded and one away. O'Neill coaxed the Brandeis batter into grounding to Thomas at third. Thomas converted the play to an out at second, but Rick Wolff overthrew first in the attempted double play. Two unearned runs scored, shaving the Harvard lead to one run. Reliever Norm Walsh was called upon to stop the rally, and a strong job by the sophomore hurler extinguished the threat. Walsh finished up the game with an easy ninth inning.

Weissant did get credit for the win, however, extending his record to 3-0. Harvard is now 3-0 in the Greater Boston League, and wins over Tufts. Northeastern, and Boston College would wrap up the title for the Crimson nine.