Coming off of three consecutive wins by run rule, Virginia baseball has looked dynamic as it closed out non-conference play. That momentum quickly fizzled out. In what was a close game start to finish, the Cavaliers (8-4, 0-1 ACC) looked like a shell of themselves, blowing a lead late to the Eagles (5-5, 1-0 ACC). After holding a 4-2 lead, victory escaped Coach Brian O’Connor’s squad. They gave up five unanswered runs in the 4-7 defeat.
The performance of the bullpens was the story of the game. Both units started on fire, and only one run was scored from the end of the fourth to the top of the eighth. Unfortunately, the Virginia bullpen folded quickly after junior outfielder Jonah Ragsdale hit a two-run home run off graduate pitcher Matt Lanzendorfer in the eighth inning to tie the game. This sparked a Boston College run that saw them seize victory 7-4.
As the Cavaliers were held to just a few runs, the limited standouts of the game at the plate were sophomore infielder Eric Becker and junior infielder Chris Arroyo. The pair combined for five hits and three runs batted in, constituting the majority of the team’s offensive production.
Aside from that duo, the offense was quiet. In particular, stranding runners was a problem for Virginia. The Cavaliers left runners on base in five innings —- including two or more runners in two innings. While some of it can be attributed to the Eagles’ bullpen playing well, poor situational hitting was also clearly a problem. This kept Boston College in the game the entire way, and will be an even bigger problem against tougher ACC teams.
Early in the second inning, the Eagles put the pressure on high. Senior infielder Nick Wang opened the inning with a double in the right-centerfield gap, giving Boston College its first runner in scoring position. A Wang stolen base and a walk from graduate infielder Vince Cemini put runners on the corners. A single from junior outfielder Jack Toomey knocked in Wang, giving Boston College the lead.
Virginia responded by coming alive in the third, with a single from junior infielder Henry Godbout and a triple from Arroyo that scored Godbout. Ford would then hit a ground ball to second base that scored Arroyo and gave the Cavaliers the lead. This inning would be the last of sophomore pitcher Kyle Kipp, as Boston College went to freshman Gavin Soares in the bullpen.
Humming along, the offense continued to look good in the fourth inning. Junior infielder Luke Hanson started off the frame with a walk. Then, sophomore infielder Eric Becker hit a no-doubt home run to the batter’s eye in center field, extending the Cavalier lead to three.
But just as a comfortable lead was established, Boston College started to get hot again in the sixth inning. Junior outfielder Jonah Ragsdale got on base via catcher’s interference, and was moved over to third by a single from junior infielder Kyle Wolff. A flyout from graduate infielder Patrick Roche scored Ragsdale, and subsequently forced O’Connor to end Woolfolk’s day and call on the bullpen. Graduate pitcher Matt Lanzendorfer entered the contest, and shut down the Eagles’ run with two consecutive strikeouts, keeping the game at 4-2.
Later in the eighth inning, Boston College struck the winning blow. Ragsdale sparked his offense with a home run, and then a pair of walks and a double ensued — loading the bases for Cimini. With the count juiced, Cimini stroked a ball into left field, scoring two and tipping the game square into the Eagles’ favor. From here on, Boston College poured it on, and the inning would not end until the score was 7-4.
“They did a terrific job in the eighth inning…” Coach Brian O’Connor said. “Credit to them, they’re a tough, gritty ballclub.”
Now playing from behind, it was do or die time for Virginia. Unfortunately, they did not put up much resistance. Junior pitcher A.J. Colarusso flashed his excellent pitch mix, holding the Cavaliers hitless in the eighth inning. After holding the Eagles scoreless in the ninth, it was either score three or lose for Virginia. The Cavaliers could not mount the proper resistance, and Boston College won.
Losing this game is incredibly disappointing for Virginia. Projected to finish on the upper end of the ACC standings, they now have been given an early reality check. Late game mishaps have cost them the game in all of their losses and continue to hold this team back from reaching the mountaintop. If the Cavaliers cannot close games against what was supposed to be a weaker ACC team, they will have no chance of doing so against conference contenders.
“We just need to be tougher at the end of the game, it just comes down to that,” junior outfielder Aidan Teel said. “We need to have tougher at-bats at the end of the game, we need to be tougher on the mound, we just need to be tougher all around.”
The series continues tomorrow at 1:00 p.m., where the Cavaliers will look to shake their loss off and get back in the win column. Freshman pitcher Tomas Valincius is slated to start, as Virginia will aim to get back on track. Valincius currently sports a 2.12 ERA in 17 innings of work — and has soared to become one of the best freshman arms in the country.
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