BC BASEBALL Drops First Game to Pitt

Box Score (PDF)

BRIGHTON, Mass. – The Boston College baseball team lost the first game of a doubleheader against Pittsburgh, 9-4. The Eagles (9-18, 4-9 ACC) gave up five runs without allowing a hit in the first five innings to the Panthers (16-10, 5-8 ACC).

Sophomore Brian Dempsey led the way at the plate for BC, going 3-for-4 while classmate Jack Cunningham drove in two for the Eagles. In his first career start for BC, sophomore right fielder Joe recorded his first career hit and his first career RBI, driving in the first run of the game.

Junior right-handed starter Jacob Stevens tied for second on BC’s all-time list with 38 career start.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Pittsburgh 9, Boston College 4
Records: Pitt (16-10, 5-8 ACC) at Boston College (9-18, 4-9 ACC)
Series: Pitt leads, 1-0
Location:  Brighton Baseball Field in Brighton, Mass.

BC HIGHLIGHTS

• Sophomore Brian Dempsey led the way for the Eagles with a 3-for-4 afternoon, extending his hit streak to five games. He has at least one hit in 20 of the Eagles’ 27 games this season and in 34 of the last 47 games played, dating back to last year. He has reached base safely in the 25 of the 28 games this season.
• In his first career start in a BC uniform, sophomore Joe Suozzi logged his first career hit and first career RBI.
• Sophomore Jake Goodreau made his second career start behind the plate. He went 1-for-2 with a walk.
• Freshman Chris Galland logged two hits, scored and stole his ACC-leading 17^th base of the season. He is now tied for ninth in BC’s single-season record book.
• Sophomore Jack Cunningham recorded a team-high two RBIs.

KEY PLAYS

• Pitt broke the 2-2 tie in the fifth with a five-run inning, scoring three runs without logging a hit.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Eagles struck first, tallying a run in the second. Redshirt junior Scott Braren and Dempsey started the inning with back-to-back singles and with two down, Suozzi hit one up the middle to score the first run of the game.
• Pitt answered in the top of the third to tie the game. Nico Popa led off with a walk, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a groundout RBI by Cole MacLaren.
• BC retook the lead in the bottom of the inning. The Eagles loaded the bases on an error, hit by pitch and walk. Dempsey was hit by a pitch to score the go-ahead run.
• The Panthers tied the game in the fourth. Two walks and a sacrifice bunt put both runners in scoring position and a wild pitch scored the tying run. Junior starter RHP Jacob Stevens got a strikeout and popup to end the inning.
• Pitt broke the game open in the fifth. The Panthers loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a hit batter. Liam Sabino hit a sac fly to right to break the tie. After a walk reloaded the bases, junior RHP Sean Hughes came into the game. He walked in a run and classmate LHP Zach Stromberg relieved him. The lefty allowed a bases-loaded walk and a two-run base hit to plate three more runs, giving Pitt a 7-2 lead. Stromberg ended the inning with a strikeout looking.
• The Eagles loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning but couldn’t capitalize. Dempsey led off with a bunt single and with one down, Goodreau walked and junior pinch hitter Gian Martellini was hit by a pitch. RHP Chase Smith relieved starter RHP Matt Pidich and got a strikeout and grounder to get out of the jam.
• After retiring seven straight, Stromberg allowed two runs in the eighth to give Pitt the 9-2 lead. With one on and one out, Popa knocked one to left. It took a high bounce off the turf to the wall for an RBI triple. Connor Perry followed with a base hit to plate the second run of the inning. Junior Jack Nelson came into the game and got a fly ball to end the inning.
• The Eagles got two back in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Martellini and Galland logged base hits and tagged up on a deep fly ball to center. Cunningham scored both a single up the middle.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Pitt increased its all-time series lead to 27-24, 5-2 in the ACC. The Panthers have won the last three meetings.
• For the 12^th time this season, the Eagles did not commit an error.
• With his 38^th career start, Stevens is tied for second on BC’s all-time list.
• Pittsburgh scored its first five runs without tallying a hit. The first hit Pitt recorded was in the fifth inning.
• The Eagles tallied at least 10 hits for the 14^th time this season. BC outhit its opponent but lost for the third time in 2018.