Last week was somewhat uneventful, with no midweek games slated due to final exams. For the most part, workouts consisted of optional hitting and a few bullpens for those pitchers needing to throw. The team met on Wednesday for a light scrimmage, which allowed our hitters to get a few looks at live arms. It's tough on hitters to go an entire week without facing guys that are trying to get you out.

On Friday, upon completion of the last round of final exams, the team hopped on the bus and headed to New York for an all-important three-game set with St. John's. It's about a two-tin ride to the Big Apple (if you're a Red Sox fan, we refer to it as the Rotten Apple - home of the hated Yankees), where, after watching "Air Force One" and "The Sandlot," it was time for The Greyhound Lounge. This is a yearly road trip tradition where all freshmen and any newcomers to the program - coaches, trainers, SIDs, etc. - try their best at belting out their favorite song. Anyone failing to complete their version of whatever it is they choose gets stuck in the bathroom at the back of the bus. Renditions of Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby," 50 Cent and some good ol' boy Garth Brooks seemed to add hours to the trip.

It was just plain ugly. A fish hook in the eye would be more pleasant than listening to the sounds coming from the mike. Seriously, it was pretty funny. The best part was the heckling and the chants of "Put'm in da batroom" (from "A Bronx Tale") upon any miscues.

The pregame talk on Saturday stressed the need for a sweep to stay alive in the Big East. Ace Chris Lambert was on the bump for the first game and, as he has done for us all year, had a solid performance. The defense played well in support, and we took the first one 3-2. The second game was about as ugly as the singing on the ride down. We struggled in every aspect in a hard 13-0 loss. Sometimes you run into good pitching and all else seems to go wrong. This was one of those games.

The only bright spot was 2B Josh Discipio continued his consecutive game hitting streak at 24 straight. It almost fell. We were emptying the bench in the ninth to get guys an at bat when our student manager let it be known that if we pinch hit the streak would be over. Our subs were all for it and Josh came up with a base hit to left. There is no doubt he would have cashed that streak in for the 'W.'

On Sunday we were met with overcast skies, and a must-win situation was on the table. The game was tight early until St John's scraped a few across to take a 3-0 lead. We loaded them up in the sixth, but managed to plate only one run when the St John's center fielder hosed one of our guys at the dish - just as he had done to end the second inning – to stifle the rally. Losing 3-1 put us in a position where we'll need some help to extend our season. We are still alive - barely - and there is still a chance to make the Big East tourney with a couple different scenarios. Right now, though, the only one that concerns us is going after the sweep of West Virginia this weekend.

Steve Englert

(photo courtesy of BC Media Relations Office)