As the regular 'Varsity nine had likewise won the first of their series with Harvard, the "Sons of Eli" began to think they had a sure thing, and those who came on from New Haven were dead sure in their minds that they would bring back the scalps of the Harvard freshmen.

They said over and over that there would be no need of a third game to settle the matter; Yale would settle it in the second.
Walter Gordon had pitched the whole of the first Harvard game.

He had been hammered for thirteen singles, two two-baggers, and a three-bagger, and still Yale had pulled out, which was rather remarkable.

But Walter had managed to keep Harvard's hits scattered, while Yale bunched their hits in two innings, which was just enough to give them the winning score.
It was said that Frank Merriwell was to be given a show in the second game, and a large number of Yale men who were not freshmen had come on to see what he would do.

Pierson had been particularly anxious to see Merriwell work, and he had taken a great deal of trouble to come on.