Eagles baseball takes two in Maryland

Lost in the midst of BC’s great success in hockey this past weekend, as well as women’s basketball’s win in the WNIT (and another men’s basketball faceplant that we need not discuss here), was BC baseball winning an important series in College Park. The Eagles rode in against the Terps at 6-8 (0-3) but came out 8-9 (2-4), and had a legitimate chance to win all three games but lost on a balk of all things.

Boston College’s first win, a 7-4 game on Friday, was impressive for the fact that the Eagles’ bullpen, much maligned early on this season, was made to pitch eight innings – and in that time, they only gave up one hit, three walks, and one run. Of particular interest was the line of Matt Brazis, the struggling closer, who pitched two innings with no runs or baserunners allowed. BC got three hits apiece from Mike Sudol and Anthony Melchionda.

The second win came on Sunday, with starter John Leonard leading the way to a 4-1 win. He no-hit the Terps into the sixth inning and left after eight-plus innings and only one run allowed. Boston College’s offense, however, was no-hit into the seventh inning, but still took the lead on a number of walks and some small ball. The Eagles led the whole way and took the critical rubber game.

Back on Leonard for a moment: with his 8 IP, 1 ER performance on Sunday, he is now 3-1 with a 2.36 ERA so far for the season. This is probably far better than even the most optimistic followers of this program could have expected so far, given the quality of BC’s opposition. There is no question that he is the Eagles’ ace at this point.

Maryland is an improved team by all accounts, but they, like the Eagles, had been swept in their first conference series. Neither team could afford to get swept the series, even at this early point, as it would dig them in too steep of an early hole. Neither team did, but BC winning this series has at least put them in a reasonable position at 2-4 in ACC play, while Maryland has a lot of work to do at 1-5.

BC will next travel out to Worcester to play Holy Cross on Wednesday.