The baseball team has followed its 12-game win streak with two straight losses, but three games against NESCAC cellar dweller Bowdoin might put the team back on track. The team travels to Brunswick, ME, this weekend and plays its first game against the Polar Bears at 3 p.m. today.
A Saturday doubleheader will round out the weekend.
Though Bowdoin is not formidable on paper, the team will need a balance of solid hitting and consistent pitching to sweep the Polar Bears. Coach John Casey said the team should not become too confident.
"They are a good team," Casey said. "They don't make errors and have good pitching."
Two of the Jumbos' three tri-captains, junior Evan Zupancic and senior Dan Callahan, along with junior shortstop Brian Shapiro, lead the Jumbos at the plate. Zupancic was co-NESCAC player of the week as a result of his performances against Massachusetts Maritime and Wesleyan.
Over the course of three games, he hit .563 (9-for-16), flexing his leadoff hitter muscles for three homeruns - matching his total from last season. He also scored eight runs, and knocked in seven.
Zupancic is also up for a misdemeanor as he stole three bases over that time period. He is currently batting .348 for the season and has started in all 18 games this year.
"Zups has done everything we have asked him," Casey said. "He made himself a great leadoff hitter."
Callahan is proving that last season's NESCAC Player of the Year honor was no fluke, batting .382 with four triples and two homeruns. But while his season stats are impressive, his last three games have not been.
Callahan is one for his last eight at the plate, with the team losing two of its last three. A big factor for the Jumbos this weekend will be how well Callahan can shake off his last couple games. While Callahan has struggled from the plate, Casey said that will turn around.
"One day you're great, the other day you are awful," Casey said.
Shapiro has been named NESCAC player of the week once this season after his play on the team's spring break trip. This season, he's been an effective clean-up hitter.
"Shaps is more of a streaky hitter," Casey said. "He is much better this season, more mature than he previously was."
Shapiro is leading the team in RBIs (20), homeruns (5) and at-bats (69), he is also tied for the lead in doubles (5) and hits (26). He is hitting .377 on the season.
"We'll go as far as Cals and Shaps take us," Casey said. "We can survive without one, but not without two."
As for pitching, coach Casey said the team is in good shape for the weekend. "One of our strengths is our pitching depth," he said. "We got enough to go Saturday."
Junior Dave Martin, who is 3-0 on the season with a 0.30 ERA, will be the starting pitcher on Friday. Junior Jon Lee, injured for much of the season, is available for short relief on Friday, but will start one of the games on Saturday. Shapiro, who starts at shortstop, is also available for short relief.
The other starter for Saturday has yet to be determined.
Although Casey could not guarantee that the squad would bring home three victories, he did make one promise. "We're going to play hard, I can guarantee you," he said. "This will be the best pitching we have seen for three games. It will be a test for us."
Casey said he will do his part to help the team win. "I will not throw batting practice," he said. "That is the only thing I can do to help. Both times I did so, we lost."
