Northeastern baseball (17-14, 10-5 CAA) outscored the Harvard University Crimson (5-17, 4-4 Ivy) in the Beanpot semifinal April 8 by a score of 4-1, sending them to the final game.
This will be the Huskies’ third consecutive season playing in the Beanpot Championship, which is set to begin April 14 in Brighton against Boston College, who defeated the University of Massachusetts 11-1 in eight innings.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Basel started off the Huskies strong, pitching for five innings with six strikeouts and allowing just one run on four hits. Dominant pitching from redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Joseph Hauser and graduate student right-handed pitchers Andrew Wertz and Matthew Sapienza combined for 12 outs to clinch the win for the Huskies.
In the top of the second inning, sophomore catcher Cooper Tarantino led off with a walk, followed by redshirt freshman first baseman AJ Aschettino getting hit by a pitch. Sophomore right fielder Carter Bentley grounded out to advance both runners. Then a single to first base by freshman second baseman Charlie Criscola allowed the Huskies to get one on the board. With two outs and the bases loaded, senior shortstop Carmelo Musacchia smacked a single through the left side, adding on two more runs to increase the lead 3-0.
Harvard answered in the third on a single to left, driving in a run. But Basel minimized the damage as the Crimson offense stranded three runners.
In the fourth, junior center fielder Ryan Gerety kicked the offense off with a walk and then stole both second and third. He went on to score on an RBI single by redshirt senior left fielder Harrison Feinberg to add an insurance run for the 4-1 lead.
The Huskies took advantage of every offensive opportunity as they scored their runs on an earlier walk or hit by pitch. The team also stole seven bases on the day, putting the season total bags stolen at 118.
Northeastern will look to defend their back-to-back Beanpot title against the Boston College Eagles (24-11, 9-6 ACC) April 14 at Harrington Athletic Village. The teams met earlier this season, where the Huskies fell 3-2.
