Crimson Nine Destroys N.U.

Following Harvard's 16-9 loss to Tuffs Friday afternoon, baseball coach Alex Nahigian explained a fundamental part of baseball theory: "The thing is," he said. "you should win if you score nine runs. You really should."

Apparently, though, the Crimson nine thought the coach was underestimating the safety margin. On Saturday the team rapped out 20 hits to devastate Northeastern. 20-6.

The Crimson took care of a parade of five Huskie pitchers, scoring five times in the first and adding six more in the sixth to raise its record to an even 7-7. The Crimson will attempt to improve its Greater Boston League record this week when it travels to Brandeis Thursday and then plays a non-league game at URI Wednesday.

Shuffling the Deck

Nahigian shuffled his fielding lineup at the start of Saturday's game, resulting in a visibly sharper performance all around. In what may have been the key change. Danny Skaff--who had played right field in the three previous games up north--moved to third, a position normally occupied by Paul Chicarello, who shifted to designated hitter.

The move succeeded both ways. Skaff had a fine day in the field and went three for six, and Chicarello hit three-quarters of the cycle--he lacked only the homer--in a perfect four-for-four performance.

In other changes, Vinnie Martelli--previously adh--replaced Chuck Marshall as the starting third baseman. And Paul Scheper returned to the lineup after a short layoff, playing left and going two-for-five, including a triple.

Overall, the Crimson committed just one error, contrasting sharply with Friday's five-miscue disaster.

Brad Larson started on the hill and went all the way for the Crimson, upping his record to 3-1. He was shaky only in the sixth inning--Northeastern scored four times on four hits. Altogether, Northeastern garnered nine hits.

After the sixth frame, Larson seemed to get stronger, striking out the side in the eighth and facing the minimum nine batters in the last three innings.

Crimson batters showed uncharacteristic power, rapping out six extra base hits, including Don Allard's second-inning homer and triples by Scheper and Chicarello.

Northeastern's pitching staff--at least two-thirds of which must have played--helped out the Crimson attack, handing out eight free passes. HARVARD (7-7) Weller, ct  5  1  2  0 Schaper, if  4  3  2  2 Bauer, ss  3  2  1  1 Martelil, 1b  4  3  2  2 Allard, rf  4  4  1  3 Chicarello, dh  4  1  4  2 Lyman, 2b  5  1  2  0 Skaff, 3b  6  2  3  1 Wark, c  4  1  2  1 Crowley, cf  0  1  0  0 Marshall, 1b  2  1  1  0 Polich, dh  2  0  0  1 Lennon, c  1  0  0  0 Totals:  44  20  20  13

Northeastern  000  014  100 Harvard  531  106  13x

Northeastern:  ip  h  r  or  bb  so O'Leary  1.2  7  8  5  1  0 Thomas  3.2  5  5  4  5  1 Seapion  0  3  3  3  0  0 Walsh   1.2  3  4  3  5  0 Bell  1  1  0  0  0  0 Harvard: Larson  9  9  6  4  4  6

Northeastern  000  014  100 Harvard  531  106  13x

Northeastern:  ip  h  r  or  bb  so O'Leary  1.2  7  8  5  1  0 Thomas  3.2  5  5  4  5  1 Seapion  0  3  3  3  0  0 Walsh   1.2  3  4  3  5  0 Bell  1  1  0  0  0  0 Harvard: Larson  9  9  6  4  4  6

Northeastern:  ip  h  r  or  bb  so O'Leary  1.2  7  8  5  1  0 Thomas  3.2  5  5  4  5  1 Seapion  0  3  3  3  0  0 Walsh   1.2  3  4  3  5  0 Bell  1  1  0  0  0  0 Harvard: Larson  9  9  6  4  4  6