Boston College Baseball Taken out in season opener against the VCU Rams
By Kyle Egan
Feb. 12, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA: Detailed view of a baseball in the dirt during Los Angeles Angels spring training at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Boston College Eagles baseball fell in its season opener at the Country Inn and Suites Elon Invitational by a score of a 4-1 to the VCU Rams.
Coming off a 22-35(10-20 ACC) 2012 season, the Eagles were down early in the game as Bill Cullen crossed the plate on a Joey Cujas ground out in the bottom of the first inning. Boston College quickly answered back after a double by rookie DH Logan Hoggarth in their next at bat.
But after the top of the second, the Eagles bats were mostly silenced by the combination of VCU sophomores Heath Dwyer(6.0IP,1ER,7 H,1BB,4K) and Matt Lees(3.0IP,0ER,0H,0BB,2K), failing to even reach a base in the last five innings. The dominant pitching was clearly too much to handle for the Eagles.
For the Eagles, junior starter Eric Stevens(6.0IP,2ER,0BB,0K) picked up the loss despite a quality performance only giving up to 2 runs to the Rams during his six innings on the rubber. Freshman Jeff Burke made his NCAA debut coming in relief for Nate Bayuk the bottom of the eighth, retiring the 4-5-6 hitters without a problem.
VCU scored what would be the winning run in the bottom of the fifth when James Bunn lasered a double down the right field line scoring Landon Prentiss. The Rams would add two more for insurance sealing their season opening win.
The top performer for the Eagles was freshman Logan Hoggarth, who drove in their only run on a double to right center while going 2 for 3 at the plate. Senior RF Matt McGovern also turned in a solid day picking up two singles in his first two at bats.
The Eagles will try to avenge their loss tomorrow against the host of the tournament, Elon University, at noon.
Keep following Soaring to Glory throughout the season for Boston College baseball analysis and commentary.