Baseball Swept In South Carolina

Playing in relatively warm Myrtle Beach, S.C., the Harvard baseball team could never get the bats to heat up.

In its first two games of the weekend, the Crimson (1-6) failed to put any runs on the board, falling first to Ohio State, 11-0, and the next day, 10-0, to Coastal Carolina.

Harvard scratched across its first runs of the weekend on Sunday, but it was not enough to overcome Ball State as the Crimson went on to suffer another defeat, 10-2.

“Our main problem was executing when it really mattered,” sophomore outfielder Brandon Kregel said. “We hit the ball pretty fine, but we just never really put it all together at one time. A lot of people showed a lot of good things.”

BALL STATE 10, HARVARD 2

With the score 5-2 in favor of the Cardinals (6-8) after the sixth inning, the Crimson still found itself in the game. But Ball State took advantage of a series of hits to open the game up in the top of the seventh, scoring five runs with two outs left in the inning.

“It was a pretty close game up until [the seventh inning],” Kregel said. “Right there and then they were able to come together, string everything together, and execute when it mattered. And I think that’s what broke the game open.”

Harvard tied the game at one in its half of the second. After a walk and a single, freshman shortstop Mitch Klug singled up the middle to plate Kregel.

The Crimson scored its second and final run of the weekend in the fifth, when junior infielder Carlton Bailey made his way to third base after a throwing error and was singled home by Kregel a batter later.

“We’re definitely putting the ball in play, which is different than last year when we were striking out a lot more,” sophomore outfielder Mike Martin said. “We’re hitting the ball and they’re just going right to fielders, especially when we’re hitting them hard. We just need a couple breaks.”

For the third game in a row, Harvard pitchers had trouble retiring their opposition. Ball State hit junior pitcher Baron Davis the hardest, as he allowed seven earned runs in fewer than four innings.

COASTAL CAROLINA 10, HARVARD 0

The Crimson fell into an early hole against the Chanticleers (6-8) on Saturday afternoon, giving up four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Despite the cushion, Coastal Carolina continued to build its lead throughout the game, taking advantage of another four run inning to roll to a 10-0 victory.

Although the Harvard offense posted seven hits—and had a man on third base five different times—the team could not come through with runners in scoring position and was shut out for the third time this year.

“We have to be more aggressive on the basepaths,” Martin said. “We need to push the envelope a little bit more and maybe get some more hitting and running, bunting, and getting guys over when we need to.”

The majority of offensive production for the Chanticleers came from the middle of the lineup—the two-through-six hitters accounted for all 10 RBIs.

All three Crimson pitchers to take the mound struggled to contain the Coastal Carolina offense. Junior pitcher Sam Dodge gave up five runs, including three earned, before he was pulled in the fourth inning.

Martin served as the bright spot for the Crimson in the loss. The only Harvard player to total more than one hit, the center fielder contributed three singles and a stolen base.

OHIO STATE 11, HARVARD 0

In its first game of the weekend, the Crimson failed to muster the necessary offense and fell, 11-0, to the hot-hitting Buckeyes (8-4).

Harvard had no answer for Ohio State junior pitcher Jaron Long, who tossed a complete game, three-hit shutout. The Crimson was unable to work the count as Long pounded the strike-zone all day long, finishing at only 87 pitches.

Only two Harvard players managed hits on the day. Freshman designated hitter D.J. Link reached a five-game hitting streak with two singles and senior first baseman Rob Wineski also contributed a base knock.

Coming off a scoreless outing last weekend against Bucknell, senior pitcher Matt Doyle struggled on the mound, allowing six earned runs in four innings. The three Crimson relievers who followed Doyle could not stay out of trouble and each surrendered at least one run.

Ohio State received a big performance from freshman third baseman Jacob Bosiokovic, who went four-for-five with a pair of two-run homers to left field. Bosiokovic accounted for six RBIs and scored twice.

—Staff writer David Steinbach can be reached at dsteinbach@college.harvard.edu. Follow him on Twitter @BigBach12.