CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Junior Zach Brown tallied three RBIs and a two-run home run, first-year Sawyer Feller launched a two-run homer, and Harvard University baseball beat the No. 24 University of Miami, 11-6, in its season opener on Friday night at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field in its first game in 719 days.
 
Playing for the first time since March 8, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Crimson (1-0) scored five runs over the third and fourth innings and six runs over the seventh and eighth frames to defeat the previously unbeaten Hurricanes (5-1).
 
Brown went 3-for-5 in the game with his three RBIs while Feller finished 2-for-5 with a homer, two RBIs, and two runs scored. A total of five Crimson student-athletes posted multi-hit nights. Junior right-handed pitcher Adam Stone went 4.0 innings in the start in his collegiate debut allowing two runs and striking out four. First-year right-hander Tanner Smith earned his first collegiate win.
 
Trailing 2-0 through two innings, the Crimson scored three runs in the top of the third and two more in the fourth to move ahead 5-2. After the Hurricanes tied the score at 5-5 through five and pulled ahead 6-5 through six, Harvard responded with Brown's two-run homer to re-gain a 7-6 advantage. The Crimson tacked on four runs in the top of the eighth and did not allow the hosts to score over the final three stanzas.
 
Junior center fielder Hunter Baldwin made a diving catch in left center field for the game's final out. 

Harvard Highlights

• Junior catcher Zach Brown went 3-for-5 at the plate with a home run, double, three RBIs, and a run scored.
• First-year designated hitter Sawyer Feller finished 2-for-5 with a homer, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
• First-year second baseman George Cooper tallied two RBIs.
• Junior third baseman Will Jacobsen went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk.
• Sophomore shortstop Jake Berger registered two hits and two runs scored alongside a double and a walk.
• Sophomore right fielder Peter Messervy went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk.
• In his collegiate debut, junior right-handed pitcher Adam Stone threw 4.0 innings in the start, allowing two runs – both earned – on four hits with four strikeouts.
• Out of the bullpen, sophomores Uday Narottam and Jay Driver did not allow a run over the final three innings and combined to permit just two hits. Narottam pitched the seventh and eighth before Driver came on in the ninth. 

Game Notes

• Harvard totaled 13 hits as a team in the contest. The Crimson went 13-for-37 (.351) at the plate.
• The Crimson's pitching staff totaled nine strikeouts in the game.
• Nine of the 13 student-athletes to appear in the game for Harvard made their collegiate debuts. That group included first-year George Cooper, sophomore Chris Snopek, sophomore Jake Berger, first-year Sawyer Feller, sophomore Peter Messervy, junior Adam Stone, first-year Tanner Smith, sophomore Uday Narottam, and sophomore Jay Driver.
• Harvard's four veteran players to appear in the game included juniors Zach Brown, Will Jacobsen, Logan Bravo, and Hunter Baldwin.
• Harvard improved to 2-8 all-time vs. Miami. The Crimson's previous win over the Hurricanes came on March 29, 1997.
• The Crimson won its season opener for the first time since 2017.

What's Next?

Harvard plays Miami in game two tomorrow – Saturday, Feb. 26 – at 7:00 p.m. (ACCNX). The two teams conclude the series on Sunday, Feb. 27 at 1:00 p.m. (ACCNX).