Eagles Baseball Takes One of Three from NC State

Boston College’s weekend series against the #18 North Carolina State Wolfpack ended on Saturday with a doubleheader, but the Eagles’ baseball team only did their winning on Friday. BC lost two of three games to the hosting Pack, falling to 15-25 (6-15) in the process.

In Friday’s first game of the series, Boston College prevailed in a close one, 11-10. Leading the way for the Eagles was Anthony Melchionda, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Spenser Payne was 2-for-2 with two walks to reach base all four times during the contest. Taylor Lasko started the game for BC, going 5.1 innings with three earned runs, but Matt Brazis earned the win in relief. It was not until a five-run top of the 8th inning that the Eagles took the lead for good, but despite two late rallies, BC held the Wolfpack off just long enough to earn the victory.

The first game of Saturday’s doubleheader was a 9-0 defeat for the Eagles. Boston College, shut out for the first time this season, collected only five hits and got just six men on base for the entire game.

Early on, this game looked like a pitcher’s duel at 0-0 heading into the bottom of the 5th, but NC State broke through with four runs in the frame and added five more thereafter. Hunter Gordon took the loss for the Eagles, going five innings and allowing just one earned run (four runs total); BC committed a costly error in the inning.

In the second game, the Eagles were defeated 16-9. This time, it was Marc Perdios going 3-for-4 for Boston College while also drawing a walk, batting in a run, and scoring twice. NC State was definitely mashing, however, as they pounded out 19 hits in their rubber game victory. Geoffrey Murphy earned his first loss of the season in long relief of freshman Tyler Hinchliffe.

Unfortunately, the ACC baseball standings have not gotten any more favorable to the Eagles this weekend:

1. Florida State (1st Atlantic, 18-2)
2. North Carolina (1st Coastal, 13-8)
3. NC State (2nd Atl, 13-8)
4. Miami (2nd Cstl, 12-8)
5. Clemson (3rd Atl, 12-9)
6. Virginia (3rd Cstl, 11-10)
7/8. Wake Forest (4th Atl) and Georgia Tech (4th Cstl, 9-12)
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9. Virginia Tech (5th Cstl, 8-13) [1 GB]
10/11. Maryland (5th Atl) and Duke (6th Cstl, 7-14) [2 GB]
12. Boston College (6th Atl, 6-15) [3 GB]

With just nine games to go, the Eagles now trail the eighth spot by three full games. Their next ACC series is at home against Wake Forest; the Eagles have to be thinking two of three at a minimum, but a sweep would be optimal. Anything less than taking the series would suggest very long odds of making the ACC Tournament.

The Eagles are back in action on Tuesday for a neutral-site game against St. John’s.