After missing its chance to win the Beanpot title for the fourth year running, Boston College baseball will take on Massachusetts in the consolation game. With the event having been moved to the Eagles’ Brighton Field, local baseball fans will also have the opportunity to watch Northeastern take on Harvard in the championship nightcap.
The Eagles (10-19, 5-10 Atlantic Coast) snapped an eight-game skid with a win in Sunday’s series finale against Pittsburgh and will play a Minutemen (9-12, 2-7 Atlantic 10) squad that has faced similar troubles as of late, having lost six in a row.
Who is BC playing?
Massachusetts
When is BC playing?
Tuesday, April 10, 3 p.m.
Where is BC playing?
Brighton Baseball Field, Brighton, Mass.
How to Watch:
Live stats will be available to follow here.
By the Numbers:
BC:
1) In Sunday’s win over Pittsburgh, Brian Rapp and Thomas Lane combined to limit the Panthers to just one hit and zero runs—just the second shutout on the season (the other March 6 vs. UNC Asheville) and the fewest hits allowed thus far.
2) Chris Galland went 3-for-3 on stolen base attempts over the weekend, extending his streak to 19 successful attempts in a row to start the season. The freshman’s speed on the basepaths has been unrivaled in the ACC, as he has two more than Louisville’s Josh Stowers despite equal attempts.
3) Gian Martellini had a three-run double in the win and has been heating up as of late—he’s reached base safely in 16-straight games, recording at least one hit in each of the last five. The junior is 5-for-10 in the last two games with a pair of extra-base hits.
UMass:
1) Ryan Lever paces the lineup with a .307 batting average and just saw his 19-game on-base streak come to an end in Sunday’s loss to Saint Louis.
2) The Minutemen had a chance in the Beanpot first round matchup against Northeastern, faltering, 10-8. They used a five-run inning to build a 7-2 lead through six innings, but the backend of the UMass bullpen wasn’t up to par—it coughed up eight runs in the next three innings.
3) Pitching has been a consistent problem for the Minutemen—over the six-game losing streak, they’ve posted a 6.50 ERA, allowing a remarkable 39 earned runs over the span.
Last Meeting:
Donovan Casey hit for the cycle in his first four at-bats, and the Eagles cruised to a convincing 13-1 win, routing UMass on the road. Jack Nelson picked up the win with four shutout innings, in which he didn’t allow a hit while also striking out three. The pitching staff as a whole conceded just one run on three hits, while the lineup staked out to an early 2-0 lead and rolled from there.
Outlook:
Quite simply, this game is a disappointment for the Eagles—winning four Beanpot titles would’ve been a great ending for a player like Jake Palomaki, a senior who has played an important role since his arrival on the Heights. Still, avoiding a winless Beanpot is important, and the Minutemen aren’t at the same level—so you can expect a reinvigorated BC team to come out firing. The bats were clicking on Sunday night, and if the pitching turns in a similar performance, there’s a good chance the Eagles will place third in the annual competition.
Featured Image by Keith Carroll / Heights Editor
