HOUSTON, Texas – First-year catcher
Sawyer Feller and sophomore right fielder
Ben Rounds each tallied two RBIs, but Harvard University baseball fell to Rice University, 9-6, on Sunday afternoon at Reckling Park in the series finale with the Crimson still taking the four-game set, three games to one.
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The Crimson (4-3) cut a 9-2 deficit to 9-6 with a pair of runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings before the host Owls (3-9) held on for the win in game four of the series. Harvard took the first three matchups of the weekend, winning 3-0 on Friday before capturing both games of Saturday's doubleheader – 2-1 and 6-3.
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Feller went 2-for-3 in the game with his two RBIs, a double, and a run scored while Rounds posted two RBIs and a double. First-year second baseman
George Cooper hit his second leadoff home run in as many games. Sophomore right-handed pitcher
Chris Clark threw 2.1 innings of scoreless and hitless relief to close the game.
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After Cooper's homer opened the game's scoring, Rice plated three runs in the bottom of the first to move ahead 3-1. Harvard trimmed the margin to 3-2 in the top of the second before the Owls totaled six runs between the second and the sixth to take a 9-2 lead. Harvard cut into the deficit with two runs in each of the seventh and eight frames before Rice closed the contest.
Harvard Highlights
- First-year designated hitter Sawyer Feller went 2-for-3 in the game with two RBIs, a double, and a run scored.
- Sophomore right fielder Ben Rounds tallied two RBIs and a double.
- First-year second baseman George Cooper hit a home run to lead off the game for the second straight outing. He hit his first two collegiate homers in the series.
- Sophomore left fielder Chris Snopek scored a pair of runs, walked twice, and added a hit.
- Sophomore right-hander Chris Clark threw the final 2.1 innings for the Crimson, striking out four while allowing no runs, no hits, and one walk.
- First-year right-hander Sean Matson registered five strikeouts over 3.0 innings of relief.Â
Game Notes
- For the series, sophomore Chris Snopek led the Crimson with a .500 batting average (6-for-12) with three RBIs, three runs scored, and a double.
- First-year Sawyer Feller hit .417 (5-for-12) in the series with four RBIs and a double while junior Logan Bravo went 5-for-13 (.385) with two doubles and four runs scored.
- Snopek (.391) and Sawyer (.348) lead the Crimson in batting average for the season. Sawyer paces the team with six RBIs.
- For the series, Harvard's pitching staff posted a 3.19 ERA, totaling 39 strikeouts over 31.0 innings. For the year, the Crimson has totaled 62 strikeouts over 56.0 innings.
- Harvard moved to 3-4 all-time vs. Rice.
What's Next?
Harvard begins a 10-day, eight-game road trip to the state of California with a four-game series against Cal Poly. The Crimson will play game one on Friday, Mar. 11 at 9 p.m. ET, a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 12 starting at 4 p.m. ET, and game four on Sunday, Mar. 13 at 4 p.m. ET.