After being swept at No. 12 Clemson this past weekend, Boston College baseball (9-16, 4-8 Atlantic Coast) is back in Brighton to host Harvard (9-13, 1-2 Ivy League) for the first round of the Beanpot Tournament with hopes to get back on track before resuming ACC play. BC is 14-4-1 against Harvard in the annual tournament and currently posts an overall Beanpot record of 37-16-1.
Who is BC playing?
Harvard
When is BC playing?
Wednesday, April 4, 6 p.m.
Where is BC playing?
Brighton Baseball Field, Brighton, Mass.
How to Watch:
Follow along with live stats at bceagles.com.
Probable Starters:
RHP Jack Nelson (0-1) vs. RHP Buddy Hayward (1-2)
By the Numbers:
BC:
1) Despite recording two hits in the Eagles’ series opener against Clemson, Chris Galland went 1-for-10 in the final two games of the weekend set. The freshman has a batting average of .333, six doubles, and 11 RBIs this season.
2) Junior Gian Martinelli just recently threw out his 11th base runner attempting to steal, making him the leader in the ACC in that department.
3) BC was outscored, 27-9, in its most recent series against Clemson.
Harvard:
1) Harvard has an overall batting average of .243, whereas its opponents are hitting .318 on the year.
2) Junior Ben Skinner is currently batting .317 and has already logged six doubles, 12 RBIs, and 18 runs this season.
3) Right-handed pitcher Buddy Hayward is posting a 5.06 ERA with 23 strikeouts, having fanned an average of 9.70 batters per nine innings.
Outlook:
The Eagles have recently struggled on the mound, giving up several walks, ultimately handing their opponents a bevy of scoring opportunities. Only tallying nine runs against Clemson in the three-game series, BC’s lineup—a unit that carried the team in the early going—is in somewhat of a rut. The Eagles, the only team in the ACC yet to record 10 or more wins, have plummeted in the conference standings. That’s not say that BC can’t compete: It’s important to remember that head coach Mike Gambino’s group held its own against both North Carolina State and Virginia earlier this year. Luckily for the Eagles, Wednesday’s matchup could be what they need to right the ship. After all, Harvard’s pitching staff is still in the process of finding any sort of groove. If BC shuts down both Skinner and Patrick McColl—two of Harvard’s most dangerous hitters—and the bats come alive, the Eagles will have a good shot at ending their five-game losing streak.
Featured Image by Julia Hopkins / Heights Editor
