Once again, a mid-week game salvaged a poor weekend for Bowdoin and bolstered confidence for the week ahead. The team played Saint Joseph's College of Maine last Tuesday and took the victory with a come-from-behind 7-5 win. The Bears took an early 3-0 nothing lead in the contest but quickly found themselves down 5-3 going into the sixth. Fortunately, the team was able to rally with consecutive two-run innings to take back the lead for good.
Sophomore Brendan Garner drove in the winning runs with a two-run single in the seventh inning. Sean Kleier '09, Eric Chenelle '10, and Tim Welch '11 together recorded four scoreless innings to end the game, giving the team the opportunity for the comeback. Bowdoin snaps a five-game losing streak to St. Joe's with the win.
It was an important game for the Bears, mentally, after a disappointing two-game split with Thomas College of Maine just a few days earlier. The Polar Bears defeated Thomas College 3-0 in the opening game of a doubleheader last Sunday. In doing so, Coach Mike Connolly surpassed former coach Harvey Shapiro for most all-time wins as a Bowdoin Baseball coach, with 190.
It was a game for the record books, and yet, a game quickly forgotten. The Bears lost the second game 2-1, giving the Thomas Terriers their first win of the season.
"We've played great baseball against great teams all year, we just need to play great baseball against all teams," said Matt Ruane '11 about the loss.
However, Bowdoin's pitching was not to blame in the unsuspected split with Thomas. The team allowed only one earned run in the two games with two convincing efforts by Pat Driscoll '08 and Carter Butland '10. The two gave up only six hits while striking out 10 in 12 innings of combined work. Driscoll was also named NESCAC pitcher of the week after his performance on Sunday, which was coupled with a save against the University of Southern Maine earlier in the week.
Unfortunately, the team's offense could not keep up with its stellar pitching. The Bears went 12 of 49 from the plate over the two-game series, scoring only four runs against a team that had allowed a whopping 52 runs to Williams College in its previous three games. Bowdoin cannot afford any more slumps like this in its remaining games, as the season schedule now turns towards league opponents.
The Bears, now 13-12 on the season, have a three-game set against Colby College this weekend. Colby, 4-9 on the season and 1-2 in the NESCAC, have struggled this year, but are always competitive against their division and state rival.
"Every league series is important and this one against Colby is no different," said Assistant Coach Manny Lora. "I'm sure the boys are looking forward to it."
The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. today at Pickard Field.