Yale started in to make some scores. The very first man up got a hit and stole second. The next man went to the bat with the determination to slug the ball, but Old Put signaled for a sacrifice, as the man was a good bunt hitter.
The sacrifice was tried, and it worked, for the man on second got third, although the batter was thrown out at first.
"Now we need a hit!" cried Put. "It takes one to tie and two to win. A hit ties the game."
Rattleton offered to bet Harris two to one that Yale would win, but Sport declined the offer.
"It's our game fast enough," he said. "You are welcome to what you have won off me. I am satisfied."
But the game was not won. Amid the most intense excitement the next man fouled out.
Then Peck seemed to gather himself to save the game for Harvard. He got some queer quirks into his delivery, and, almost before the Yale crowd could realize it, two strikes were called on the batter.
The Yale rooters tried to rattle Peck, but they succeeded in rattling the batter instead, and, to their unutterable dismay and horror, he fanned at a third one, missed it, and—
"Batter is out!" cried the umpire.
Then a great roar for Harvard went up, and the dazed freshmen from New Haven realized they were defeated after all.