Baseball Southern Conference

Wildcats Tame Crimson In 10

DAVIDSON, N.C. - Junior outfielder Sam Navarro lined a two-out single in the 10th inning to plate junior Michael Muniz and give the host Davidson Wildcats (10-15) a thrilling 6-5 victory over Harvard (6-7-1).

With the score tied at five in the 10th, Muniz drew a one-out walk from Jason Brown (1-1). After an infield out advanced Muniz to second, the Crimson elected to intentionally walk sophomore Jay Heafner, who was 2-for-4 on the day, to face the hitless Navarro.

Brown hit the corner with a curveball on his first pitch to Navarro, but left his next curveball up in the middle of the strike zone. Navarro jumped on it and sent it on a line into right-center for the game-winning hit. It is the third career walk-off hit of Navarro's career at Davidson.

Both teams were fortunate just to get into extra innings. Harvard was trailing in the ninth, 5-3, and the Wildcats retired the first batter. But the Crimson rallied against Heafner, Davidson's closer, with a bunt hit and a four-pitch walk to put the tying runs. Chris Mackey hit an 0-2 slider past second baseman Ronnie Shore to score one run, and pinch-hitter David Bach drilled a double to center. The relay was in time to nail the tying run at the plate, but the three-hop relay throw could not be handled.

Now with the score tied with runners at second and third and just one out, Harvard threatened to take the lead. Pinch hitter Marc Hordon got a swinging bunt single, but with the infield playing in, the runners could not advance to load the bases. The threat died, however, when Hordon strayed too far from first and was picked off, and Heafner (2-1) got the final out on a grounder to short.

The two runs in the ninth cost sophomore Matt Meade his first collegiate win. In five innings of shutout relief, he allowed just two hits and no walks while striking out a career-high eight batters. Meade faced just one batter over the minimum in his five-inning stint.

Harvard jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first off Wildcat starter Justin Hartanov. Trey Hendricks hit a screamer to left-center for a two-run double, then scored with one out after a passed ball and a grounder to first.

Meanwhile, Crimson starter Rob Wheeler cruised through the first three innings, throwing just 15 pitches to record nine outs. Davidson started to get to him the second time through the order, though. Junior Andrew Musashe singled, stole second and moved to third on a balk to start the fourth. A walk and a strikeout later, sophomore Alex Entrekin hit a one-hopper to short that was bobbled for an error and scored Musashe. Heafner followed with an RBI single to left to get the Wildcats within one.

The 'Cats took the lead in the fifth with two unearned runs. With two outs and a man on first, Musashe's bunt was bobbled for an error. Benefield followed by lining the next pitch into the left-field corner to score both runners. Davidson tacked on another unearned run in the seventh for its 5-3 lead.

Freshman Alden Crissey and Heafner each had two hits for Davidson, while Harvard's Lance Salsgiver led all players with three hits, including a double.

Davidson next hosts Wofford for a three-game Southern Conference series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Harvard travels to Cornell on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at noon.