Pittsburgh sweeps a twin-bill from Boston College

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Pittsburgh sweeps a twin-bill

At any level of baseball, pitching is important. In game one of a doubleheader between Pittsburgh and Boston College, the Eagles staff managed to give up only three hits. But, 11 walks allowed the Panthers to have traffic on the base paths all game long. The result was a game one victory for Pittsburgh over BC 9-4.

We've got ⚾️ today in Brighton! 🙌 Join us for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.!
📻 – https://t.co/KRHJ8Gpl6n
📊 – https://t.co/5erE1kqD0Q pic.twitter.com/kd9yyO0opC

— BC Baseball (@BCBirdBall) April 7, 2018

Eagles starting pitcher Jacob Stevens (3-4), despite giving up zero hits in his four and two-thirds, was hurt by the base on balls. He allowed six walks in his outing, five of them would cross the plate. It included four in a five-run fifth that sealed his fate and that of his team. His Head Coach, Mike Gambino, would later say that “Stevens lost command of the zone”.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh game one starter Matt Pidich did give up six hits and a couple of runs. However, he was able to stay away from major problems by striking out eight in his five and one-third of work. He improves his record to 4-1 with his outing.

Photo courtesy of pittsburghpanthers.com

The top of the fifth-inning was the undoing of the Eagles in the one. Five walks, a hit batsman, contributed to the big inning for Pittsburgh. The only hit in the inning was a two-run RBI single to center field by Ron Washington Jr. That scored the fourth and fifth runs of an inning where the Panthers would bat around.

Boston College did have their chances to score more runs, but could not. For the game, they would strand 14 runners including bases loaded in both the third and sixth innings. Their inability to get that timely hit would really hurt them in this one.

Game two was also about pitching. For Boston College, Dan Metzdorf was given the baseball. He came into this game with a 6.10 ERA, very high for a starter. Saturday he did not throw the ball like someone who has been suffering. He would go eight innings, allowing only four hits and one run which was earned. He threw 109 pitches of which 69 were for strikes. He looked comfortable on the mound and the results backed that up. He would finish the game with 13 strikeouts.

The Panthers went with Chris Gomez, who went the first three for Pittsburgh, and gave up only a first-inning run. It came on a Jack Cunninggroundout out that scored Jake Palomaki who led off the frame by reaching on a base on balls.

Pittsburgh would tie the game in the eighth as David Yanni led the inning off by getting hit by a pitch. He moved to third on a double to LF by Frank Maldonado. After a failed safety squeeze retired the first out of the frame, Ron Washington Jr. beat out an infield hit that would score Yanni and the game was tied at 1-1.

A slow-rolling grounder to third scores the tying run.

Panthers 1#Birdball 1
4th | 2 outs

— BC Baseball (@BCBirdBall) April 7, 2018

In the bottom of the eighth, the Eagles retook the lead. Facing R.J. Freure, BC put together a rally that would give them a two-run advantage. With one down, Catcher Gian Martellini singled to left field. Chris Gallant reached on an infield hit and both runners advanced on a fly ball out to CF. With two on and two out Jake Alu came through with a clutch two-run RBI triple to left field, with Giambo waving him around third base. Alu was thrown out at the plate by shortstop Yanni on a great relay throw. The Eagles had the lead back at 3-1.

Boston College called on their closer Joey Walsh to shut the door and give his team a split of the two games, but the Panthers had other ideas. After the leadoff man fanned, Washington tripled to left field and the ball took a big hop over LF Galland’s head. The next batter, Nick Popa, reached on a throwing error by third baseman Alu. Washington would score on a single by Caleb Perry to bring Pittsburgh to within one at 3-2.

The Panthers then tie the game, when leadoff hitter Alex Ramos single to center field scoring Parry. Game tie at 3-3.

It would stay that way until the 12th inning when the Panthers retook the lead on a long home run over the right-field scoreboard by Yanni. The blast was his third of the season and it came off of Walsh to give Pittsburgh the lead back at 4-3.

Boston College got that run back in the bottom of the 12th. Martellini tripled to the gap in right-center off Panther closer Yaya Chentouf. One out later he scored to tie the game on a fielder choice ground ball by Galland, that SS Yanni had a tough time with.

A grounder to short ends the 12th. pic.twitter.com/XvzP190uhg

— BC Baseball (@BCBirdBall) April 8, 2018

The Eagles had an opportunity to win the game in the same inning, as Galland stole second base. It was his second of the game and his 19th on the season. He had yet been caught, but when he tried to score from second base on a wild pitch that rolled toward the third base dugout, Panther catcher Cole MacLaren pounced on the ball and started a rundown that nailed Galland rounding third base. The game moved along now tied at 4-4.

Pittsburgh finished the sweep in the 13th against the third Eagles pitcher Thomas Lane. After two were out, Connor Perry drew a walk and would score all the way from first on a double by Maldonado to left field. Maldonado crossed the plate on a base hit to center by Amos and it was 6-4 Pittsburgh.

Chentouf got the side in order in the bottom of the inning to give his team a sweep of the doubleheader and improve their record to 17-10 overall and 6-8 in league play. For Chentouf, it was his fourth win against only one defeat.

Boston College drops to 9-19 overall and 4-10 in conference play. Lane takes the loss and his record now stands at 1-2.

The Eagles will try to salvage one game in this series on Sunday afternoon when they send Brian Rapp to the hill He will be opposed by Blair Calvo for Pittsburgh.