There were many scenes like this one at the BC-Clemson game, but the Eagles didn't take their big lead for granted.
It is rare that you see a team sacrificing with an 8-run lead, but that is exactly what the Boston College Eagles did on Friday in their game against Clemson (ranked #20 in the country). In fact, they attempted to do it on two occasions. In the bottom of the 4th up 8-0, DH Matt Hamlet advanced Robbie Anston to 2nd base with a sacrifice bunt. With the same score in the bottom of the 6th inning, the Eagles tried it again (this time with a runner on 2nd base with 0 outs). Was this unconventional? Was it a sign of respect for the Clemson Tigers? Should teams with big leads take this approach more often?
In this game, I think we had a case of a coach understanding that a team like Clemson could put up a lot of runs in a hurry. By bunting, BC Coach Mik Aoki sent a message to his kids that there was a lot of game left to be played and they still needed to fight for every run. It was even more important to send the message in this game seeing that 7 of their 8 runs had been scored on homeruns and the fact that it was the first game of a three game set. Losing a lead like that in game 1 could have been a devastating momentum shift. Rest assured Eagles fans…BC extended its lead and rolled to a 13-1 win.
I’d like to see more coaches manage in this fashion. Don’t think just because you put up some crooked numbers early in the game that it will happen again. Play for one. Those insurance runs can really drain the opposition emotionally. Do you agree?
That is BC’s style of play, regardless. They had 4 sacrifice bunts in the first 3 innings of a game last week vs. Maryland. They bunt guys over rather than steal. 8-0 lead in 4th, think it was their style of play while the game was still in its early stages. 8-0 lead in the 8th, they wouldn’t do this.
And just to add…………BC would have done this against any opponent, but on lower levels, an 8-0 lead on 95% of teams my team competes against would NEVER come back from that in the 4th inning.
You do have to remember that the “metal bat” game is a lot different than the “wooden bat” game. Granted a line-up like Clemson’s could put up 8-10 runs quickly with wood bats, but metal bats really do change the college coach’s approach to maintaining a lead.
In a wooden bat league, I don’t see this happening. That’s not to say it’s not possible for a team to come back from an 8-0 deficit, but it’s more unlikely. Metal bats really have changed the way the college game is played.
Kudos to Aoki for understanding his opponent and sticking to a gameplan. With an 8-0 lead, many inexperienced coaches (at any level) would sit back on their laurels and let the rest of the game play out. Next thing you know, you don’t know what hit you when it’s tied 8-8 in the 7th or 8th inning and the momentum has completely shifted.