Baseball Falters at Rice, Falls to 0-6 on the Season

Harvard baseball remained on the road for its second weekend, but the result was the same as last week’s series against Tulane, as the Crimson got swept by Rice (6-6) in a three-game series at Reckling Park. Harvard (0-6) flashed potential, with a late rally in Friday’s opener and six shutout innings from sophomore pitcher Luca Alagheband in Saturday’s tight contest. However, the team failed to put together a complete performance and scratch a game into the win column.

Harvard 7, Rice 11

The series started rough; the Owls’ first at-bat was a homerun, and the Crimson found itself down 7-0 after two innings. However, behind the bats of senior infielder Gio Colosante, junior infielder Jack Rickheim, and sophomore infielder Gavin Smith, Harvard threatened to make a comeback.

In the top of the third, Smith sparked the offense by launching a solo homer, which was followed by two RBI hits from Rickheim and Colosante, respectively.

Rice responded, extending its lead over the next few innings, building a 10-3 advantage by the seventh.

The Crimson replied with four runs of its own in the eighth. Colasante led off with a solo home run before a run-scoring infield single and a bases-loaded walk. Rickheim capped the inning with his second RBI of the night, finishing 2-for-5 at the plate.

Sophomore Owen Tahnk provided a bright spot out of the bullpen, throwing two hitless innings with two strikeouts. Despite outscoring Rice 7-4 after the first two innings, Harvard was unable to escape its early hole, ultimately falling 11-7 in the opener.

Harvard 1, Rice 2

Game two was a change of pace, with both offenses sputtering and pitchers controlling the game on both sides.

Through the first four innings, neither team scored. Getting the start, Alagheband delivered six shutout innings, striking out seven batters and allowing only two hits. Rice’s pitching was similarly effective early in the contest, holding the Crimson to just one hit through the first four innings.

The Crimson took the lead in the top of the fifth. Junior infielder Tyler Shulman opened the inning with a single, and freshman infielder Matthew Witkow followed with a double down the left field line to put two runners in scoring position. Rickheim later drew a walk, and Witkow scored on a passed ball to give the Crimson a 1-0 advantage. Harvard, however, stranded three runners on base to end the inning.

The Owls responded late, scoring twice in the bottom of the eighth on a pair of solo home runs to move ahead 2-1. In the ninth, Harvard put runners on base with the help of two Rice errors, but was unable to bring the tying run home, stranding three more.

Despite out-hitting Rice 6-4 and allowing just two runs, the Crimson fell 2-1 in a narrow loss.

Harvard 0, Rice 9

The final game of the series was a disappointing showing for Harvard, with Rice carrying a no-hitter into the ninth inning.

The Owls scored two runs in the first and added another in the second to take early control. After a pair of scoreless innings from the Crimson, Rice extended its lead with two runs in the fifth and later broke the game open with four more in the seventh.

Sophomore pitcher Andrew Abler made the start for Harvard, allowing four earned runs over four innings with two strikeouts. Freshman Davis Kahn followed with two innings of one-run relief, and sophomore Daniel Sams contributed four outs, giving up one run while striking out two.

Offensively, the Crimson was limited to just one hit. Harvard’s best opportunity came in the sixth when Smith and freshman infielder Aidan Colasante opened the inning with walks, but this opportunity stalled. Rice’s combined no-hitter was ended by sophomore Cullen Stone, who delivered a pinch-hit single to right field, breaking it up with just two outs to go.

The Crimson’s next series is a three-game set next weekend at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. The Flames have started their season with a strong 7-3 record. The series will be available to watch live on ESPN+.

— Staff writer Wren B. O’Looney can be reached at [email protected].