By Jared Shafran

The baseball team was defeated by the slimmest of margins Tuesday when it lost to the Boston College Eagles 8-7.

In the team’s first home game of the season at Friedman Diamond and also a rematch of last year’s baseball Beanpot final, the Huskies were unable to come out with a victory after hanging tight with the Eagles for the entire game.

The Huskies got 5 2/3 innings out of freshman starting pitcher Les Williams. He surrendered six earned runs on nine hits and collected three strikeouts.

“Les’ makeup on the mound shows us he will win a lot at Northeastern,” said head coach Neil McPhee. “He reared back and after giving up runs he was outstanding. Today was Les’ best outing in terms of overall pitching.”

The Huskies took an early lead in the second inning. After a leadoff walk to catcher Tony Dicesare, junior designated hitter Frank Pesanello came to the plate and smacked his seventh home run of the season, putting the Huskies in front 2-0.

Later in the inning, the Huskies made it 3-0 when sophomore Brendan Stokes hit a solo shot of his own. The home run was Stokes’ first on the season, and came in his first career start at first base.

In the top half of the third inning the Huskies started off with back to back singles, but a quick double play and a strikeout ended the scoring threat. Later, in the bottom of the third, Boston College’s Tony Sanchez hit a solo homer to cut the lead to 3-1. Another home run by Mickey Wiswall of the Eagles quickly erased the Husky lead for good, tying the game at three.

The Huskies tied the game in the fourth on an RBI single from Dave Fisher, who got the start at third base. But in the top of the fifth, the Eagles struck again and scored two runs to put themselves ahead 6-4.

The Huskies cut the lead to a run in the bottom of the fifth on a wild pitch from Eagles starter Kevin Moran. Moran finished the day after 4 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and walking four.

The Eagles added another run in the sixth inning on a double by center fielder Mike Sudol to extend their lead to two runs. In that inning, sophomore Sheldon McDonald came in to relieve Williams for the Huskies. McDonald finished off the game for NU, and in another stellar appearance, went 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out two.

“Our staff is struggling to find consistency,” McPhee said. “McDonald is throwing well. We expected the depth of the pitching to be a strength but we know that the talent level on our staff is good enough to beat anyone on our schedule.”

Going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Huskies were down by a score of 8-5. But Frank Pesanello would have something to say about that. He launched his second two-run homer of the day, scoring senior shortstop Mike Lyon and bringing the Huskies back to within one at 8-7.

The Eagles threatened in the top half of the eighth inning but an unassisted double play by Brandon Stokes got the Huskies out of trouble.

In the bottom of the eighth, a two out double by left fielder Mike Tamsin gave the Huskies a chance with Mike Lyon coming to the plate. Lyon came through with a single and Tamsin rounded third, trying to come home with the potential tying run but Eagles left fielder Sam Shaughnessy quickly got the ball to third baseman Mickey Wiswall, who got the ball home and Tamsin was called out at the plate.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Huskies were held silent by Eagles pitcher Michael Belfiore, who struck out the side, ending the game and the Huskies’ comeback hopes.

“Our approach to the plate has been aggressive,” McPhee said. “Overall, we look like we are going to break out.”

The loss drops Northeastern to 10-11 on the season while Boston College improves to 12-14. The two teams will play again Wednesday, April 9 in the first round of the Beanpot tournament in Lynn.

“They threw their No. 1 freshman pitcher, we threw our No. 1 freshman pitcher,” McPhee said. “They got us by a run. We are certain we can beat that team.”

The Huskies will host UNC Wilmington this weekend for a three-game series at Friedman Diamond. The first game is this Friday at 2 p.m.