First-year right fielder Aidan Colasante hit his first collegiate home run, a three-run shot, during Harvard University’s baseball game against Liberty University on Saturday at Worthington Field. Despite Colasante’s achievement and junior catcher Dominic Brancel driving in three runs, Harvard lost 11-7 to Liberty.
This was the second game of a three-game series. Harvard, now 0-8 for the season, took a 7-5 lead after scoring six runs across the third and fourth innings. However, Liberty responded by scoring the final six runs of the game, securing their eighth consecutive win and improving their record to 10-3.
Colasante’s home run came in the top of the third inning as part of a rally that also included Brancel’s two-run double. Junior second baseman Tyler Shulman went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. First-year third baseman Matthew Witkow finished with two hits in four at-bats, one run scored, and a walk.
Senior center fielder Max Lane and senior designated hitter Jordan Kang each contributed a hit and a run. Senior first baseman Gio Colasante added an RBI with a sacrifice fly. First-year left-handed pitcher Brett Gable threw 1.2 innings of scoreless relief with three strikeouts.
As a team, Harvard recorded nine hits and seven walks during the game.
Harvard opened scoring with Gio Colasante’s sacrifice fly in the first inning before Liberty tied it up and then pulled ahead by four runs in the second inning. The Crimson regained momentum in the third when Brancel delivered his two-run double followed by Aidan Colasante’s home run over left field.
Brancel brought in another run in the fourth after being hit by a pitch with bases loaded to give Harvard its last lead at 7-5. Liberty answered back immediately with three runs in their half of the fourth inning to retake an 8-7 advantage before adding three more runs in the seventh.
Harvard will play Liberty again on Sunday at noon for the final game of this series (broadcast on ESPN+).
