For those of you who adhere to the philosophy that "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game," yesterday's Harvard-Boston College baseball doubleheader at Soldiers field is for you.

It is known that B.C. came charging from behind to knock off the Crimson in the first game, 10-8, which was marred by Harvard errors. It is not known, however, who won the nightcap. Neither the players, nor managers or even fans.

The uncertainty began on a day that seemed perfectly tailored for baseball-sunny skies and seventy-degree temperatures--and came to an end under a setting sun at 6 p.m.

Blame this one on nature.

As the sun was descending, Harvard southpaw Tom Hurley took a 4-2 lead to the mound to start the seventh inning. He needed to retire only the Eagles ninth, leadoff and second batters to avenge the Crimson's loss in the day's opener.

Hurley caught B.C. catcher Jerry Varnum, the ninth hitter, looking at a called third strike to open the inning. He then worked the count full before issuing a walk to Mike Martin.

With the sun rapidly dimming, the Eagles Dave Fraser knocked a Hurley offering over the right field fence to tie the game. Or so it seemed.

After Hurley struck out Brian Kelley, first baseman Chris Taylor doubled, which brought out Harvard Coach Leigh Hogan to the mound.

Hogan's twilight trip did not end with a pitching change, but with the umpires' decision to call the game on account of darkness.

Dark Rule

Under official NCAA regulations, when games are called on account of darkness, the score reverts back to that of the end of the previous inning. According to the NCAA, Harvard would have won a six-inning contest, 4-2.

That is the NCAA rule, which will hold unless the league to which the Crimson and Eagles belong has its own regulation. In that event, it would become unclear who won, because Harvard and B.C. play under the auspices of the Greater Boston League--which has never had any "clear policy" concerning games called on account of darkness, according to Hogan.

The coaches of the GBL--which also includes Boston University, Northeastern, Tufts, Brandeis and MIT--would have to vote to make the teams finish the game, according to Hogan. But for now, the outcome is "not conclusive," he said.

But this much is known: Harvard starter Tom Hurley gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in the first inning, before settling into a groove that lasted until the ill-fated seventh. From the second to the sixth inning, Hurley shut out the Eagles, allowing only three hits while striking out two.

Offensively, the Crimson did its job, scraping together one run each in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. But then the sun started its descent.