Through the cold Sunday drizzle, the scoreboard almost looked like a mirage; Colby College was leading Bowdoin 9-1 in the ninth inning of the decisive game of a three-game series. Unfortunately for Bowdoin baseball fans, however, the losing score was very much a reality; Colby swept a double header and won the season series two games to one.
The series began with a 7-5 Bowdoin victory in Waterville. Junior Brett Gorman once again had the crucial hit, crushing a solo home run in the seventh to tie the game at 5; Dan Hicks '11 added an RBI single in the seventh to put Bowdoin ahead for the win.
The next two games of the series were pushed back to Sunday due to inclement weather. Game two featured a pitchers duel at Bowdoin, after which Colby managed to eek out a 2-1 victory. Oliver Van Zant '13 pitched well for Bowdoin but picked up his first loss of the season, allowing two runs on only three hits and striking out 10. The Mules were able to take advantage of Van Zant's six walks and managed to score twice in the fifth and hold on for a one-run win.
Colby dominated the decisive third game of the series, winning 9-1. On Friday and Saturday, Bowdoin suffered from sloppy fielding and a lack of offense, committing five errors and managing only four hits in nine innings. Colby senior Kenneth Kaufman knocked in two runs for the Mules.
The losses to Colby dampen the playoff prospects of the Polar Bears. The team falls a game behind Trinity for the final playoff spot in the NESCAC East, but Bowdoin owns the tiebreaker due to its series victory over the Bantams.
Bowdoin's stumble continued Wednesday against in-state rival Husson. The offensive woes of the Polar Bears persisted, as Husson starter Ryan Arsenault held Bowdoin to two runs in a complete game effort. Junior centerfielder Brendan Garner chipped in three hits for Bowdoin.
Garner blames a lack of timely hitting for Bowdoin's recent offensive power outage.
"We're getting hits and people on base, but we just haven't been able to get the big hit to drive everybody in," the centerfielder said.
This weekend's home series against Tufts University is critical for the Polar Bears' postseason positioning. Tufts enters the series coming off of a huge series win over Trinity and boasting a 19-3 record. The Jumbos' success thus far puts them in first place in the NESCAC.
Coach Michael Connolly anticipates a closely contested series.
"We're two similar teams," Connolly said. "It's going to come down to who can pitch better, who can catch better, and who can hit better."
The Bowdoin squad is excited for the weekend, hoping to get back on track after a lackluster stretch against Colby and Husson. The Tufts series provides ample opportunity for Bowdoin to rediscover its winning ways.
"It should be a three-game battle," game one starter Tim Welch '12 said, "I can't wait for Friday."