This year's baseball team is off to the best start in school history. Considering the 141-year history of the program, the team's 13-3 record is definitely something to be excited about.
Bowdoin won a number of games by a large margin and handled a Curry College team that won 34 games last year, sweeping a doubleheader by scores of 17-4 and 6-2.
Bowdoin was also able to win a couple of pitching duels, relying on a pinpoint pitching staff. In a 3-2 victory over St. Olaf, Tim Welch '12 spun a complete game gem, scattering five hits and allowing only one earned run. Bowdoin earned two thrilling, come-from-behind victories. Trailing by five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning against UMass-Boston, the team rallied to win in the 10th on an Adam Marquit '11 walk off single.
The junior shortstop noted the team's tendency to come through in the clutch.
"We were only in the situation because our team wouldn't give up," said Marquit. "The entire trip we had the confidence that the game was never over."
Head Coach Michael Connolly cited consistency as the biggest factor for the team's success. The team clicked offensively and defensively throughout the trip.
"It didn't matter who we played," Connolly said. "When we played well, we won."
This weekend, Bowdoin is traveling to its annual showdown with Trinity College. Trinity has dominated the NESCAC over the last two seasons, a stretch that's included a D-III record 44-game winning streak in 2008 and back-to-back NESCAC championships. This season Trinity is off to an imposing 9-1 start and is currently ranked number four in the country.
Despite Trinity's impressive resume, Bowdoin enters the series brimming with confidence after its impressive spring trip. Bowdoin boasts a potent and balanced lineup led by senior co-captain Reid Auger. A Second Team All-NESCAC catcher last season, Auger enters the series batting .456. More importantly, Bowdoin's starting catcher is healthy following the spring trip for the first time in his four-year career.
"We're really looking forward to going down there [and hitting]," said Auger.
On the mound, the Polar Bears look to build on their early success. The dynamic underclassman duo of Tim Welch '12 and Oliver Van Zant '13, both boasting perfect 3-0 records, will get starts against Trinity, as will senior Carter Butland.
"Carter showed the same stuff on the trip that he had two years ago when he was one of the best pitchers in the league," Connolly said.
That year Butland lost to Trinity, a team in the midst of a 44 game winning streak, despite throwing a complete game one-hitter.
Junior third baseman Brett Gorman said he is optimistic about the weekend.
"As long as we play our game as a complete team, we can beat anyone," he said.