The sun had long set behind the Harrington Athletics Village press box by the time Nick Wang stepped into the batter's box to kick off the bottom of the ninth inning. The Beanpot sat visible through the windows behind him after Boston College relinquished it to start the two-week trip through Massachusetts' college baseball landscape, and the Ivy League's Harvard Crimson, a five-time holder of the trophy, were hoping a hard-fought evening in Brighton wouldn't end in dramatic, walk-off fashion.
Relief pitcher Callan Fang was in his second inning of work, and like the four arms preceding him over the first seven innings, he saw his first three outs dance in and out of traffic and trouble against a Birdball lineup that couldn't quite produce with runners on base or in scoring position.