Metzdorf K’s Eight, but Eagles fall in 13

Box Score (PDF)

BRIGHTON, Mass. – The Boston College baseball team led a two-run lead in the ninth, but Pittsburgh tied it and earned a 6-4 victory in 13 innings to clinch the series in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday evening.

The Eagles (9-19, 4-10 ACC) have not won a series against the Panthers (17-10, 6-8 ACC) since Pitt joined the ACC in 2014.

Junior left-hander Dan Metzdorf tied a career high with an eight-inning start. He allowed just four hits, one run, and one walk while striking out eight. In the last three starts – 20.2 innings – he has recorded 30 strikeouts.

Freshman Chris Galland stole two bases to bring his season total to 19, which not only leads the ACC but is tied for third on BC’s single-season list.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Pittsburgh 6, Boston College 4 (13 innings)
Records: Pitt (17-10, 6-8 ACC) at Boston College (9-19, 4-10 ACC)
Series: Pitt clinches the series, 2-0
Location:  Brighton Baseball Field in Brighton, Mass.

BC HIGHLIGHTS

• Junior LHP Dan Metzdorf tied a career-high with an eight-inning start, striking out eight. The lefty allowed just four hits, one run and one walk. Over his last three starts – 20.2 innings – he has recorded 30 Ks. He has thrown eight innings three times in his career.
• Sophomore Brian Dempsey tallied a hit in the game, walked and stole a base, to tie his longest career hit streak at six games. He has at least one hit in 21 of the Eagles’ 28 games this season and in 35 of the last 48 games played, dating back to last year. He has reached base safely in the 25 of the 28 games this season.
• Freshman Chris Galland was 1-for-2 with a run, two walks, an RBI and two stolen bases. He is a perfect 19-for-19 on the stolen base path this season and is now tied for third in BC record book for his single-season total.
• Junior Gian Martellini was 3-for-6 with a triple and two RBIs. He extended his on-base streak to 14 games.
• Junior Jake Alu was also 3-for-6 with a triple and two with two RBIs. His two-run triple in the eighth broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth.

KEY PLAYS

• The Eagles took a 3-1 lead into the ninth, but with redshirt freshman LHP Joey Walsh on the mound, the Panthers tied the game on two singles.
• After both teams scored in the 12^th to keep it a tie game, Pitt scored two off junior RHP Thomas Lane in the 13^th with two outs to earn the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the first, as senior Jake Palomaki led off with a walk, moved up to second on a fielder’s choice and to third on a balk. Sophomore Jack Cunningham plated him with a groundout.
• Ron Washington, Jr. doubled in the first run of the game for Pitt in the fourth.
• Alu broke the 1-1 tie in the eighth with a two-run triple. Martellini singled to start the inning and Galland drew a one-out walk. With two outs, Alu smashed one to left to score both teammates. He was thrown out at the plate trying to score.
• In the ninth, Walsh started the inning with a strikeout on three pitches but Washington, Jr. knocked one to right. It took a high bounce on the turf, landing him on third. Nico Popa chopped one to third and a low throw allowed him to reach to put runners on the corners. Caleb Parry hit one to right to make it a one-run game. Pitt tried to execute the safety squeeze, but Walsh fielded the bunt and threw home for the second out. Alex Amos tied the game with a single up the middle before Walsh ended the inning with a fly ball.
• With two down in the 12^th, David Yanni hit a solo shot to right to give Pitt the 4-3 lead.
• The Eagles answered to extend the game in the bottom of the inning. Martellini led off with a triple to deep right center and with one down, Galland hit a slow roller to short, plating Martellini as the tying run. Galland stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and tried to score the game-winning run as the ball got away from the catcher, but he was caught in a rundown for the second out. A grounder ended the inning and kept the game going.
• Pitt scored two the following inning off Lane to earn the 6-4 lead. Lane struck out the first two batters he faced before walking Connor Perry. Cole MacLaren hit a sky-high ball to left that fell in front of Galland sprinting in, allowing the go-ahead to score. Amos singled up the middle to score the second run of the inning before Palomaki made a diving catch on a liner in the gap to end the inning.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Pitt increased its all-time series lead to 28-24, 6-2 in the ACC. The Panthers have won the last four meetings and all three ACC meetings between the two Big East squads.
• The Eagles tallied at least 10 hits for the 15^th time this season.
• The last time the Eagles hit two triples in a game in a 5-1 win against Northern Illinois on Opening Day in 2016 – Feb. 19 – when Donovan Casey and current senior Anthony Maselli completed the feat.
• The Eagles are 0-4 in extra-inning games this season.
• The Eagles’ four errors in the game tied a season high. They also recorded four in a 9-8 loss to Bryant on March 3. BC is 1-11 when making two or more errors in a game.
• Martellini made just his second error of the season in 239 chances.
• Palomaki did not reach base in the first game of the doubleheader but walked and singled in game two. He has reached base in 25 of the 28 games this season.

UP NEXT
The Eagles and Panthers finish the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.