Boston College head coach Todd Interdonato said on May 29 that his team showed promising signs despite a first-round loss to Liberty in the Athens Regional. Interdonato observed that Liberty’s ace, Ben Blair, began to tire as he neared 100 pitches, relying more heavily on his fastball in the later innings. Boston College managed their first run when Julio Solier homered in the fifth inning and continued to challenge Blair with disciplined at-bats.
AJ Colarusso started for Boston College and kept pace with Blair by navigating through base runners over four consecutive innings. Colarusso ended his sixth inning with a double play and stranded runners in both the fifth and seventh innings. The Eagles’ offense gained momentum after the seventh-inning stretch, highlighted by Solier’s two home runs and Jack Toomey’s eighth-inning shot down the right field line.
“I thought [this game] was exactly what I expected, coming into this situation,” said Interdonato after BC’s eventual one-run loss to the Flames. “I thought their starter did what we prepared for, and I thought he was really good… I felt like every time we had a chance, it was really giving us an opportunity to create a rhythm. [Solier] pumped two balls out of the park, Jack [Toomey] got one out of the park. We know we’re capable of that, and then I thought AJ getting out of the seventh was electric.”
Foley Field presents unique challenges due to its dimensions; its right field fence is shorter than left field, creating an environment where right-handed hitters can capitalize on fastballs directed away from them. This played into Boston College’s late offensive surge as Solier’s home runs went deep into right field power alley.
Solier commented on his approach at bat: “I just tried to be calm, to be honest,” said Solier. “I don’t really get too high or too low, and I just play the game that I love. It’s weird to say, but I don’t really care what I do. I just like winning… hitting those home runs are for the team, not [just] for me.” Interdonato also praised Colarusso’s performance: “[AJ] battled his face off,” said Interdonato.
Despite losing their opening game in regional play, Boston College believes their ability to compete against top pitchers provides building blocks heading into Saturday’s elimination game.
