Eighth Inning Proves Costly in Doubleheader Sweep

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Leading 1-0 in both games of a doubleheader, the Boston College baseball team twice fell late on Saturday; 4-1 to George Mason and 6-2 to USC Upstate. The combined 10 runs allowed came in the eighth inning of each game as the Eagles dropped to 2-4.

In 17 total innings, BC pitchers combined for 15 shutout frames, but could not prevent the big inning. Freshman right-hander Eric Schroeder (Ridgewood, N.J.) turned in four-scoreless frames in his first career start in the opener against the Patriots (3-3). Fellow freshman righty Sean Hard (Mahwah, N.J.) tossed three-shutout frames in the start against the Spartans (5-1), but was lifted after needing 60 pitches to get through three; leaving two runners in scoring position in the second and the bases loaded in the third.

Sophomore right-hander John West (Shrewsbury, Mass.) came on in relief of Hard and threw four zeroes on the scoreboard. He ran into trouble in the eighth as a single and a walk set the table. West (0-1) was lifted with two in scoring position and one out and both runs came in on an error a batter later as he was charged with the loss.

At the plate, Boston College was just 4-for-23 with runners in scoring position and 6-for-33 with runners on base. Sophomore left fielder Travis Honeyman (Massapequa, N.Y.) went 4-for-5 in game two.

DETAILS
Scores: George Mason 4, Boston College 1;
Records: Boston College 2-3, George Mason 3-3, USC Upstate 5-1
Stadium: Harley Park
Attendance: 287

GAME NOTES
· Saturday marked the first-ever match-up with George Mason and just the second against USC Upstate. The Eagles previously defeated the Spartans in 2015.
· Honeyman recorded a career-high four hits for his third multi-hit game of the season. It was the first four-hit day by an Eagle since [checks notes] yesterday when Joe Vetrano went 4-for-5 at Presbyterian.
Vetrano extended his season-long hit-streak to six games with a ninth-inning double in game two.