Fifteen minutes before what would prove to be a win-or-go-home game against Bates last weekend, Bowdoin starting pitcher Oliver Van Zant '13 was pulled because of an arm injury. Enter senior co-captain Joe Pace. Seven shutout innings later, the Polar Bears were in the NESCAC playoffs.
Because of a Bowdoin win on Friday, as well as a Tufts victory over Trinity on Friday, Bowdoin entered its Saturday doubleheader having to win only one game to clinch a playoff birth. Led by the heroics of Pace, Bowdoin won game one of the Saturday set 2-0. Pace struck out five in his seven-inning shutout, scattering five hits and four walks.
"I like to put a lot of runners on base to boost the degree of difficulty," joked Pace. "Honestly, I'm just excited we're in the playoff."
An RBI double in the fifth inning by Reid Auger '10 was all the run support Pace needed. Joe Comizio '11 chipped in an insurance run in the sixth, knocking in Brett Gorman '11 with an RBI single.
Bowdoin got off to a good start Friday against Bates, starting strong in game one of the three-game set. The Polar Bears scored four runs in the first inning, before much of the Ivies-celebrating crowd arrived. Led offensively by junior centerfielder Brendan Garner, who reached base five times and scored twice, Bowdoin cruised to an 8-4 victory. The story for the Polar Bears, however, was starting pitcher Carter Butland '10. Continuing his superb season, Butland pitched 8 1/3 innings and allowed no earned runs.
Coach Mike Connolly was impressed by the senior's performance, "Carter was dominant. When your pitcher sets the tone like that, it's easy to win ball games."
The senior has been particularly good in league games, decimating the NESCAC with his cutter en route to a 0.35 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance.
With a playoff spot secure, Bowdoin dropped game three of the series 7-2. Bates scored six runs in the third off of Bowdoin starter Tim Welch '12 and coasted to victory behind starter Ryan Heide, who pitched 8 1/3 strong innings for the Bobcats. Auger was responsible for both of Bowdoin's runs, including a solo home run in the seventh.
In the final day of the regular season, Bowdoin dropped a heartbreaker to the University of Southern Maine 4-3. Nick Tom '10 put the Polar Bears ahead 3-2 in the fifth inning, scoring on a Garner double. Bowdoin couldn't hold on to its one-run lead on senior day, though, allowing a two-out, two-run single to Anthony Pisani in the top of the ninth.
The NESCAC playoffs start Friday at 4 p.m. Bowdoin will face the Williams Ephs at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass. Winners of the NESCAC West division four years running (2007-2010), the Ephs boast a .347 team batting average, good for second best in the NESCAC. Williams won the NESCAC title in 2007, the last season that Bowdoin qualified for the NESCAC playoffs.
The Polar Bears hope to utilize the best pitching staff in the league to shut down the Ephs. Bowdoin's staff notched a 2.64 ERA, led by seniors Butland (0.35) and Pace (1.50).
Win or lose, the Polar Bears play again Saturday—the tournament is double elimination—against either Tufts or Wesleyan. The NESCAC championship is Sunday.
When asked if he hopes to be playing on Sunday, Connolly quickly corrected, "I hope to be winning on Sunday."