Special to CollegeBaseballInsider.com (photo by Eric Espada of BC Athletics)
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Call them Hoosiers with a “Fenway Pah-kk” accent.
They are the Boston College Eagles, who are one win away from their first College World Series in a half-century – actually, 49 years, but either way, a long, long, long time before any of these BC players were born.
The Eagles’ big dream became a bit more possible on Saturday afternoon when they upended the No. 3 national seed Miami Hurricanes 5-3.
BC (35-21) and Miami (49-12) are tied 1-1 in the best-of-three Super Regional. The deciding game of the series is set for Sunday at noon, and the winner advances to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
“It’s not a knock on Miami because I said a couple of days ago that they have a chance to win a national championship – they’re that good,” BC coach Mike Gambino said.
“But I think if you get a chance to be around these boys [his players], they expect to win every day, no matter who they are playing.”
Gambino’s habit of calling his players “boys” plays in to the whole upset thing as if the Eagles were more like a small high school team, and the Hurricanes – winners of four national championships, which is four more than BC – are the big, bad bully on the block.
How big was this win for the Eagles?
Let us count the ways:
- BC hadn’t beaten Miami at Mark Light Field since 2010. In program history, the Eagles are just 2-14 here.
- BC never had won a Super Regional game before Saturday. Granted, the NCAA just went to the Super format in 1999, but still, it’s a first.
- BC overcame Miami’s weather – hot and humid for a noon start and then a three-hour rain delay just before the start of the ninth inning.
- BC played better defense than Miami even though the Hurricanes entered the game leading the nation in fielding percentage. Miami made two errors that led to a four-run fourth inning that virtually decided the game.
- BC matched power with power – each team hit one home run. And yes, Miami’s home run was hit by a first-round draft pick Zack Collins, who has 15 homers this season and 41 for his brilliant career. BC’s long ball was by Donovan Casey, who has just two for his career and only one this year. Never mind that – as far as the scoreboard is concerned, each solo homer counted the same.
- Thou shall not run on the Eagles. BC catcher Nick Sciortino picked Carl Chester off first base and later caught Chester trying to steal second. BC also threw Collins out at third base after he tried to advance on a hit. Sciortino, by the way, leads the ACC with 20 runners caught stealing.
Sunday’s probable starters are BC freshman right-hander Jacob Stevens (4-3, 2.14) and Miami sophomore right-hander Jesse Lepore (9-0, 2.20).
However, it’s possible Lepore, who left last Sunday’s start after just three innings due to shoulder tightness, may not be able to pitch… or he may not be able to go deep into the game.
No matter who pitches and no matter how inspiring BC’s story is to other teams who have gone through long droughts, the Canes are still the team with the better talent, the team with the home-field and home-crowd advantage, and the team that has dominated BC forever (19-7 series lead, 14-2 at home).
The Miami players – as you might imagine – are confident.
“Our team is loose,” Canes right fielder Willie Abreu said. “We know we lost a game, and we’re upset about that. But you know what? We’ve got to get over that, and our emotions are good.”
WELCOME TO MIAMI
BC junior right-hander Mike King found out he had just become part of the Miami Marlins organization after the first inning of Saturday’s game.
He had gotten out of a two-on, one-out jam with two straight strikeouts when he returned to the dugout and heard from his teammates that the Marlins had made him a 12th-round pick.
King then went out for the second inning and struck out the side.
“It definitely put a smile on my face,” King said of his selection. “It made me a little more relaxed.”
King said he was “shocked” to hear from the Marlins.
“I hadn’t had a lot of communication from them,” King said. “It’s unbelievable. I’m still in game-mode, and haven’t processed it yet.”
FEELING A DRAFT
- In addition to King, three other BC players were drafted on Saturday. Left-hander Jesse Adams was picked in the 14th round (Reds), and catcher Nick Sciortino was taken in the 17th round (Red Sox). Shortstop Joe Cronin was drafted in the 34th round (Twins).
- Miami had three players drafted on Saturday, including King’s counterpart, Canes starting pitcher Danny Garcia. The left-hander went to the Mariners in the 15th In addition, left fielder Jacob Heyward (Giants) was selected in the 18th round; and second baseman Johnny Ruiz (Astros) was taken in the 28th round.
- BC had five players drafted in the three-day selection process. Miami had seven players drafted.