The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/1/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Nick Hart Outfielder and freshman George Springer steps into the batter's box against South Florida last weekend.

Much of the baseball team's non-conference schedule has been against opponents from smaller conferences. Except for three games in the Big Ten/Big East challenge, the Huskies have been playing teams like Holy Cross (Patriot League), Sacred Heart (Northeast Conference), and Hartford (Atlantic 10). That all changes Wednesday, when the Huskies (12-11) welcome the ACC's Boston College to J.O. Christian Field.

The Eagles (15-9) come in having lost two over the weekend to No. 20 Clemson. Despite the losses, Boston College has one of the most potent offenses in the ACC. Their bats are led by junior catcher Tony Sanchez, who is second on the team with a .383 average. Not only can Sanchez hit for average, but he leads the team in home runs (7) and is second in RBIs (28).

Sanchez is helped by junior first baseman Mike Belfiore, who has five home runs of his own and is the only one on the team ahead of Sanchez in RBIs, with 34 in the young season.

The Eagles' offensive prowess is apparent just looking at their run production - they have managed to score 10 or more runs seven times already this season.

Although the Huskies do not have quite as potent a run scoring machine, their bats have been hot as of late - none more so than that of freshman George Springer. He followed up a two-home-run weekend against South Florida with two home runs, including a grand slam in Monday's game against UMass.

Springer has provided a much needed spark in an offense that has found it hard to score runs when there are two outs and runners in scoring position.

UConn fell victim to the Boston College offense last season, when the Eagles came to Storrs and came away with a 10-4 victory. The Huskies gave Boston College nine walks that day, to which coach Jim Penders attributed to the loss. It is no coincidence that in the Huskies losses this season, it is the walks that have plagued them.

After Wednesday's game, the Huskies get two days off, which will be welcome, having played eight games in as many days.

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