The fourth inning had been kind of rough for Mike Van Gorder.

Van Gorder saw his perfect game broken up, an error knotted the game at one, and after an intentional walk Vermont’s Jeff Nolet stepped up with the bases loaded and one out.

The next day’s game had already been canceled, so the series would be decided here. A win was imperative to gain a tiebreaker over Vermont, and after last season the Bearcats know how important tiebreakers can be. Kyle Henry, ranked third in the America East in ERA, was on the hill for Vermont so runs in this game were at a premium.

It should have been a pressure-filled situation ‘ but it wasn’t. No one in the crowd was worried, the BU fielders looked relaxed, Van Gorder never flinched and then, boom, 5-4-3. Double play. Inning over. Crisis averted. All in a day’s work for Mike Van Gorder.

‘Mike competes and that’s his greatest attribute,’ Bearcat baseball coach Tim Sinicki said. ‘He has a good fastball and good off-speed stuff, but what he brings to the table is a competitiveness that will get him out of jams.

‘There is no substitute for that kind of competitive nature.’

The senior right-hander embodies Binghamton baseball. He went to high school right here in Vestal, starring in baseball and hockey. His cousin Matt Simek lines up at second base behind him. His uncle does the announcing at the game. His father is a well known local doctor whom members of the team go to when they’re hurt. Van Gorder’s more connected to the school than Baxter.

And then there’s Van Gorder himself ‘ he, with the biting fastball and the lowest ERA in the America East. The guy is Mr. Consistency ‘ second on the team in ERA last season, overshadowed by Zach Groh’s monster year. The season before, Scott Diamond got all the pub, while Van Gorder quietly put together a 4.25 ERA.

He does what a pitcher is supposed to do ‘ give his team a chance to win. Every game, every season, Van Gorder pitches to win. And most importantly, he has faith that the guys behind him will back him up.

‘I just have to throw a lot of strikes, keep the ball down and trust the defense,’ he said. ‘We have a good bullpen and a good lineup, so if you keep the ball down we’ll win.’

Former sports editor Sean Lishansky used to refer to Van Gorder as ‘All-Universe.’ I don’t know if they’ll be handing out that award this year, but if the season keeps going the way it has, there is a piece of hardware that Van Gorder might want to make some room on the mantle for:

America East Pitcher of the Year.