Boston College Baseball Swept By Clemson, Now 5-25

The Boston College baseball team was swept by Clemson in their ACC home opener, dropping games by scores of 7-5, 9-2 and 1-0. Birdball falls to 5-25 on the year and 0-14 in the ACC. At least we beat UCONN this year?

While I don't get the benefit of watching these games, one thing that immediately jumps out at you when reading through the game recaps and box scores is all the errors. This team is struggling mightily in the field. This weekend, BC committed nine errors -- three on Friday, three on Saturday and three on Sunday. Throw in three more in midweek games against UCONN and Harvard and BC added 12 errors in a week.

As of March 31, BC ranked 225th (of 296) nationally in fielding percentage with a .957 average -- an average sure to plummet after last week's fielding woes.

Bigger picture, the Eagles drop to 0-14 in conference play with half the league schedule to go. The bad news is that, as one would expect, BC is already 8.5 games back of first place in the Atlantic with five series to go. The good news is that the schedule lightens considerably with series against N.C. State (7-7), at Wake Forest (4-9), Miami (6-8), Virginia Tech (7-7) and at Maryland (4-10) remaining (the Eagles miss 10-3 Virginia this year).

If BC has any hope of qualifying for this year's ACC Baseball Championship, the Eagles are going to have to start winning some games, particularly against clubs like Wake Forest and Maryland. They'll also likely need some help but the fact that this team still has a shot at qualifying for the conference championship without having won a game is pretty crazy.

Here is the ACC Baseball Championship picture with half a season to go:

1. North Carolina (11-2) - Coastal Division leader
2. Florida State (9-5) - Atlantic Division leader
3. Virginia (10-3)
4. Georgia Tech (9-5)
5. Clemson (8-6)
6. N.C. State (7-7)
7. Virginia Tech (7-7)
7. Duke (7-7)
- - - - - - - - - - -
9. Miami (6-8)
10. Wake Forest (4-9)
11. Maryland (4-10)
12. Boston College (0-14)

This speaks to how much the schedule lightens. BC is done with four of the top five ballclubs in the current standings and still has series against the three other programs outside of the top 8, with the other two in a three-way tie for sixth and the final three spots in the Championship.

Game 1: Clemson 7, Boston College 5 -- 5-23 (0-12 ACC)

"Senior right-hander Hunter Gordon pitched with the lead for the Maroon and Gold, going six innings, allowing seven hits, one run and striking out five. He did not allow a walk. Graduate student lefty reliever Nate Bayuk (0-1) took the loss, getting one out in the seventh, allowing two hits, five runs - two earned - and two walks. Freshmen Jesse Adams and Jeff Burke pitched the eighth and ninth, respectively, and did not allow a hit, run or walk while striking out one.

Clemson starter RHP Daniel Gossett (4-2) tallied the win, going 6.2 innings, allowing three hits, five runs - three earned - seven walks and seven strikeouts. Zack Erwin earned his second save of the year, finishing the final 1.2 innings of the game without allowing a hit, walk or run and striking out two.

The Tigers outhit the Eagles, 10-4, and BC stranded 11 men on base. Senior Matt Paré added three RBIs to his total with a three-run shot in the seventh inning."

Game 2: Clemson 9, Boston College 2 -- 5-24 (0-13 ACC)

"Junior John Hennessy was 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a double. Senior catcher Matt Paré also turned in a 2-for-4 with an RBI and threw a runner out attempting to steal. He extended his hit streak to four games, the longest of the season for the lefty. Sophomore Blake Butera registered two hits in four at bats as well. The Eagles left nine runners on base in the second game of the three-game series.

Junior right-hander Eric Stevens (0-7) gave up five hits, nine runs - four earned - and walked one in his five-inning start. Freshman righty John Nicklas tallied a 1-2-3 ninth for BC, throwing just 10 pitches.

RHP Clate Schmidt (3-1) went seven innings in the win, giving up six hits, two runs - both earned - five walks and struck out two."

Game 3: Clemson 1, Boston College 0 -- 5-25 (0-14 ACC)

"Redshirt freshman lefty Andrew Chin (1-7) shouldered the loss in a strong outing. He gave up one run, six hits and two walks while striking out five in 5.1 innings. Freshman relievers Jeff Burke and Jesse Adams did not allow a run or walk in 3.2 innings of combined work. Burke, a righty, allowed just two hits and struck out two in 1.2 innings, while Adams, a southpaw, struck out three and gave up one hit in two innings of relief.

Clemson lefty Mathew Crownover (4-0) stayed undefeated on the season, pitching 6.1 innings, allowing four hits, one walk and striking out four. Right-hander Matt Campbell recorded his sixth save of the year, going the final 2.2 innings and striking out three.

The first four in the Eagles' lineup - freshman Joe Cronin, sophomore Blake Butera and juniors Tom Bourdon and John Hennessy - were the only four to tally hits as BC was outhit, 9-4. The Maroon and Gold defense also committed three errors, but none provided to be costly as they did not cross the plate."

Birdball returns to action on Tuesday, April 9 with a 3 p.m. road game at Dartmouth.