Bullpen Falters in Weekend Finale, Eagles Drop Fourth Straight
Clemson scored a run in each of the final three innings, walking it off against BC's fifth reliever of the game.
If there’s anything we’ve learned in the first four weeks of Boston College’s season, it’s that no lead is safe. One of the biggest questions entering the year was how the bullpen—hampered by injuries and featuring a plethora of pitchers stepping into new roles—would hold up. Through 12 games, it has been a rollercoaster of sorts, and Sunday afternoon’s loss to Clemson was no different.
The Eagles led, 6-3, heading into the bottom of the fifth inning with starter Emmet Sheehan still in. Four innings and five relievers later, Tigers’ pinch runner Sam Hall was sliding in safely at home ahead of a throw to the plate for a 7-6 walkoff victory.
The loss, which secured a series sweep for Clemson and handed BC its fourth defeat in a row, saw the Eagles squander a lead for the second time in three days and third time in their last four games. On Friday night, BC led 3-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, only to see the Tigers score twice—this time against starer Mason Pelio—and go on to take the lead for good in the eighth. Then, in the Monday afternoon loss to North Carolina A&T, the Eagles lost a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning and eventually fell after a trio of relievers gave up four runs.
Sunday’s setback was particularly frustrating for BC, as it came up just shy for the second time on the weekend and couldn’t steal a win from its hosts. The middle of the Eagles lineup was clicking, as Cody Morissette (4-of-5), Joe Suozzi (2-of-4), and Jack Cunningham (2-of-4, HR) all enjoyed multi-hit games. Ultimately, all but one of BC’s hitters registered a hit—Sal Frelick had a rare 0-for-5 day—but the Eagles left nine runners on base and couldn’t create a comfortable lead against Clemson.
The Tigers, meanwhile, didn’t enjoy the same offensive success they had in Saturday’s 12-5 slugfest but still managed four runs on seven hits off of Eagles’ starter Emmet Sheehan before scoring in the seventh, eighth, and ninth to win.
For the second game in a row, BC was able to get to Clemson’s starting pitcher. Spencer Strider, returning from Tommy John surgery that cost him his 2019 season, labored through 2 1/3 innings, needing 59 pitches and allowing four runs in the process. After Bryar Hawkins singled in a run in the bottom of the first to put the Tigers up, the Eagles answered in the form of a leadoff home run from Cunningham and a RBI double from nine-hole hitter Dante Baldelli.
Clemson tied it in the bottom of the frame with a two-run double from Kier Meredith down the third base line, but BC responded by chasing Strider and retaking the lead in the third. With two on and two out, Luke Gold drove a 1-1 pitch from reliever Mat Clark into right field to hand the Eagles a 4-3 advantage. They added to that in the fifth, forcing Clark out of the game after a sacrifice fly from Gold and a RBI single from Ramon Jimenez, but catcher Peter Burns grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Sheehan—who went four innings, walking three and striking out five—gave up back-to-back singles to start the fifth. Reliever Joey Walsh loaded the bases with a walk, but limited damage to a lone run by getting James Parker to ground into a double play. Tasked with protecting a slim 6-4 lead, Walsh stranded two in the sixth before giving up a RBI single to Adam Hackenberg in the seventh.
In the eighth with a one-run lead, BC head coach Mike Gambino went to the bullpen again and played a matchup, but Will Hesslink walked the only batter he faced in Dylan Brewer. Brewer, who drew six walks and scored five runs over the three-game series, came around to tie the game against reliever Brian McMonagale when Hawkins drove a sacrifice fly to left field.
McMonagle gave way to Jon Campbell, and the freshman got out of the eighth on the strength of a caught stealing before walking the only batter he’d face—Davis Sharpe—to lead off the ninth. Sharpe was pinch-run for by Hall, and the Tigers executed perfectly against another reliever, Michael Marzonie. Hall stole second by the narrowest of margins, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Chad Fairey, and slid in safely on Parker’s groundout to the shortstop even with the infield drawn in.
It was a stinging loss for several reasons. Like Friday, the Eagles showed they can hang with a talented team, but just couldn’t pull out a win. They didn’t commit an error—which cost them plenty against the Tigers the previous two games—but instead hurt themselves by walking the first batter in each of the final three innings, two of which came around to score. They outhit Clemson, 14-11, but left nine runners on base and couldn’t create a more comfortable margin. And finally, in their last four games, all losses, BC has seen its bats go cold in the later innings and fail to create breathing room or stage a comeback.
With all that being said, the Eagles have a good chance to right the ship on Tuesday night in their home opener against Holy Cross (5 p.m). The Crusaders are returning after an eight-game California road trip where they took three of four from Cal State Bakersfield but dropped three of four to California-Riverside. Sitting at 5-8 and coming off of a 22-32 season, the Eagles will be looking for a breakout offensive game to put its second weekend sweep of the season behind them.
Featured Image by Boston College Athletic Communications