The Boston College baseball team's midweek woes continued as the Eagles dropped a 12-3 decision to Maine on Tuesday night at Goodall Park. The Eagles (21-31) surrendered a season-high 17 hits to the Black Bears (22-26).
Freshman Michael Strem led the way at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance. Sophomore Joe Cronin, playing in his home state, tallied two hits in five at bats, driving in a run. Freshman Johnny Adams notched a single to extend his hit streak to a career-long nine games, while sophomore Chris Shaw was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. He has reached base safely in the last 19 games.
Freshman right-handed starter Justin Dunn (1-1) lasted just two innings, allowed four hits, five runs, two walks and struck out three. Freshman RHP Bobby Skogsbergh and redshirt freshman RHP Luke Fernandes, also a Maine native, pitched an inning each of scoreless relief. Skogsbergh allowed one hit, while Fernandes gave up two and struck out one.
As if Boston College's record of performance in the ACC over the last four years wasn't bad enough, the head-scratching mid-week, non-conference losses will leave the few left on the Birdball bandwagon numb to the program's very existence. According to the most recent RPI rankings, Maine ranks 230th best in the nation, nestled between traditional powers Hofstra and Temple*. This season, BC has dropped mid-week, non-conference games to:
114. St. John's (L 4-2)
177. Dartmouth (L 2-1)
189. Northeastern (L 4-3)
189. Northeastern (L 7-0)
230. Maine (L 12-3)
272. Harvard (L 6-5)
Not to mention needing extra innings to put away UMass-Lowell (#219) and finishing last in the Beanpot for the first time in program history. If BC failing to qualify for the ACC Baseball Championship in all four years under Gambino isn't enough to force a change, certainly getting pasted repeatedly by lesser local programs is reason enough to pull the trigger.
The Eagles close out the regular season with a three-game series at No. 25 Clemson beginning on Thursday. BC's ACC Baseball Championship chances are on life support at this point. The Eagles need to sweep the Tigers, and then have a whole bunch of other things break their way to qualify. Basically, not happening.
* Temple is dropping baseball along with six other sports to boost funding for their remaining sports.