BC Baseball Completes Crucial Sweep of Wake Forest

Exactly what they needed, and potentially season-saving.

If Boston College baseball was to have any chance of salvaging their season and getting to play in May’s ACC Tournament, sooner or later, they were going to have to make a statement. With their home sweep of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons this past weekend, they did just that. The three consecutive victories give the Eagles a record of 19-26 (9-15), marking the first conference series sweep for Boston College under head coach Mike Gambino.

In Friday’s first game, the Eagles won a 1-0 pitcher’s duel behind a stellar performance by Hunter Gordon. The junior righty went seven shutout innings with just two hits allowed; Kyle Prohovich and Matt Brazis cleaned up in relief. Rob Moir was the offensive hero, batting in the game’s only run in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double.

Saturday’s contest was a 6-1 victory as Boston College baseball drew a record crowd of over 2,000 fans for their ALS awareness game in support of former Eagle Pete Frates. The honoree’s former team showed up in a big way to clinch the series, pounding out 11 hits while holding the Deacs to a solitary run in the top of the third inning. Winning for BC was Eric Stevens, moving to 5-2 on the season with 6.1 IP and the only run allowed.

On Sunday, Boston College completed the sweep with a 9-5 win. Freshman second baseman Blake Butera had three of the Eagles’ 13 hits on the afternoon, while Geoffrey Murphy earned his first win of the season in relief.

The ACC tournament standings suddenly look much more favorable to BC than they did last week; the current seeds would be as follows:

1. Florida State | 19-2, 1st Atlantic
2. North Carolina | 13-8, 1st Coastal
3. NC State | 16-8, 2nd Atlantic
4. Clemson | 14-10, 3rd Atlantic
5. Virginia | 13-10, 2nd Coastal
6. Miami | 12-11, 3rd Coastal
7. Virginia Tech | 10-14, 4th Coastal
8. Georgia Tech | 10-14, 5th Coastal
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9. BOSTON COLLEGE | 9-15, 4th Atlantic (1 GB)
10. Wake Forest | 9-15, 5th Atlantic (1 GB)
11. Maryland | 8-16, 6th Atlantic (2 GB)
12. Duke | 7-17, 6th Coastal (3 GB)

Boston College has two series or six games to go, split between North Carolina and Duke. The Eagles probably have to go at least 3-3 during that stretch to have a shot and hope that Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech do some losing in their remaining games. Nevertheless, making the ACC Tournament is much more of a possibility thanks to their home sweep.

The Eagles’ next game is on Tuesday in the Beanpot consolation game against Northeastern.