After an RBI single by Jason Twomley pulled UMass to within a run, 5-4, in the top of the fifth, Mann got the run back singlehandedly in the bottom of the frame.

With two outs, the captain launched a monster home run off of the hitters’ eye in dead center, just to the right of the 400ft. sign. It was his second long ball this week, and team-leading fifth of his career. It also tied him for the most home runs in a Harvard career with teammate Zak Farkes.

“I crushed a curveball down the line the at-bat before, so I knew I was getting a fastball outside,” Mann said. “And there it was.”

Mann flashed his bat after showing off his arm the in the top of the frame.

An errant attempt by Mann to pick off Derrick Durepo from first base allowed Durepo to advance to third, and later, to score on a base hit by Twomley; the tying run was on first. But when Twomley attempted to take second, Mann gunned him out with a perfect strike.

“I tried to make something out of nothing on that [throw to first],” Mann said. “But [catching the guy stealing] put the momentum back on our side.”

Walsh, always agressive himself, agreed.

“When you’ve got an arm like that,” Walsh said with a grin, “show it off a bit.”

Freshman Taylor Meehan (1-0) picked up his first career win, allowing only four hits and no earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of relief. Meehan replaced freshman starter Brad Unger in the fourth.

Wilson earned his fourth save of the season with 2 1/3 innings.

The Crimson jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the second.

Josh Klimkiewicz and Wilson singled consecutively to open the inning, and Farkes reached on a fielder’s choice to put runners on the corners with two outs. Durepo then misplayed a Brown fly ball to centerfield, allowing two runners to score and advancing Brown to second.

Byrne then drove him home with his first single of the day.

“I was actually fortunate by guessing a little,” Byrne said. “I sat curveball a couple times and hit it.”

UMass tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the third with a two-out rally.