After dropping three of four games to Lamar in Texas last weekend, Columbia’s baseball team heads to North Carolina on Saturday to open up a three-game set against the UNC Charlotte. At Lamar, the Lions were outscored 31-4 over the first three games before exploding for 15 runs in a runaway victory on Sunday afternoon.
Ending the weekend on an upbeat note has given the team a positive outlook for its series at Charlotte.
“We’re hoping to take some of that momentum from that last game from last weekend for this next weekend, and hopefully we can get a series win,” freshman Jon Eisen said.
Eisen, a versatile Tennessee native who plays both infield and outfield, replaced reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year Nick Cox in center field last weekend while Cox sat out with an injured hamstring as a precautionary measure. Eisen jumped at the opportunity to start in center, hitting .412 from the leadoff spot for the series and winning Ivy League Rookie of the Week. But he knows that Cox is expected to be back in his customary slot at the top of the lineup and in center field this weekend.
“We’re definitely, definitely looking forward to having him in the lineup,” Eisen said, adding that he is ready to play wherever head coach Brett Boretti desires.
The Charlotte 49ers opened their season with three losses to Clemson, but have since won four in a row and will be entering Saturday’s action with confidence. They have played only once since Feb. 26 after rain forced the cancellation of a three-game series against Canisius last weekend. The Lions, who face a very difficult nonconference schedule before league play begins in late March, welcome the challenge their opponents bring but have no illusions about the competition.
“They’re also going to be a very good team,” Eisen said. “They’re the favorites to win their conference this year.”
In the 49ers’ most recent game, a 6-1 victory over Furman, Andrew Smith tossed five innings of one-run ball to pick up the win. He struck out six and issued no free passes for his first win of the season. Designated hitter Grant Bomann provided the offense, singling in two runs in Charlotte’s five-run third and scoring one himself. Third baseman Aaron Bray also had a pair of RBI in the win.
Pitching has been a strength for the 49ers. Charlotte pitchers have yielded only five runs in their past three games.
The Lions know they will have to generate more successful offense than they did last weekend if they want to come out of Charlotte with a series win. The cold New York weather has limited Columbia’s outdoor practice time this week, allowing for extra time in the batting cages.
Although the season is young, March 28 is a date that looms large for the Light Blue. That’s when Harvard comes to town to kick off the 2009 Ivy League schedule with a doubleheader that will represent Columbia’s first step in its quest to capture the conference title for a second straight year.
“That’s been our goal from the second we started offseason training the first week we got here on campus,” Eisen said. “That’s something we’ve been stressing the whole time.”
If the Lions play as well as they did last Sunday, they will put themselves in a favorable position to go all the way once more. Columbia unloaded on Lamar’s pitchers for 19 hits in the blowout victory, including three for Eisen and four—three singles and a homer—for third baseman Mike Roberts.
Roger Aquino picked up the win for the Lions in long relief, allowing four runs over 3 1/3 innings. On the other side, Lamar went through eight pitchers in the pasting, five of whom lasted an inning or less.
The Lions are eager to take the field once more after closing out their opening weekend on a positive note, but they know their opponents will also be looking forward to the challenge.
“Being the defending Ivy League champs, we kind of have a target on our backs,” Eisen said. “It’s definitely something we’re looking forward to.”
The schedule calls for a twin bill Saturday afternoon, followed by a single game on Sunday. Games will be played at the D.L. Phillips Complex.
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