Rapp, Lane Throw One-Hitter in Sunday Victory

Junior Gian Martellini drove in a team-high three runs while senior Jake Palomakilaunched his third home run of the season. The shortstop moved into second in BC record books, reaching base safely 340 times in his career, and his 136 career runs is tied for sixth.

The last time the BC pitching staff registered a one-hit game was in a 3-1 win at Duke on April 14, 2017.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Boston College 8, Pittsburgh 0
Records: Pitt (17-11, 6-9 ACC) at Boston College (10-19, 5-10 ACC)
Series: Pitt wins the series, 2-1
Location:  Brighton Baseball Field in Brighton, Mass.

BC HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior right-handed starter Brian Rapp threw 6.2 innings without giving up a hit. He exited the game after throwing 127 pitches, allowing just one single, no runs and six walks. He struck out eight.
• Junior RHP Thomas Lane came in the game with the bases loaded in the seventh and got the third out to get BC out of the jam. He has inherited 19 runners this season and none have scored. He did not allow a hit in his 2.1 innings of relief, walking one and striking out one.
• Senior Jake Palomaki hit his third home run of the season in the eighth. He has reached base in 26 of the 29 games this season with a hit in 21 of them. He moved into second place in BC record books by reaching base safely 340 times and is now tied for sixth with 136 career runs scored.
• Junior Gian Martellini went 2-for-4 on the day with a three-run double in the fourth. He extended his on-base streak to 16 games and has a hit in his last five games, tying his season long.
• In his third career start in a BC uniform, sophomore Joe Suozzi record his first career double in the third. He went on to score the first run of the game.
• Redshirt junior Scott Braren and freshman Chris Galland were 2-for-3 on the day. Braren also walked twice, scored a run, and tallied an RBI.

KEY PLAYS

• BC scored two runs in the third to break the scoreless tie and did not look back, breaking open the game in the fourth with four runs and adding one in the seventh and one in the eighth.
• The Eagles saw four Pitt pitchers while the BC duo of Rapp and Lane held the Panthers scoreless, allowing just one hit while striking out nine.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Eagles struck first, scoring two in the third. Suozzi led off with double to the right-field wall and Palomaki moved him to third on a groundout. Sophomore Dante Baldelli plated the first run of the game on a grounder to third. Baldelli reached as the throw went home. He stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch. The Eagles loaded the bases on back-to-back singles by Martellini and Braren and a walk but a grounder ended the BC scoring threat.
• BC added four in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead. Junior Jake Alu led off with an infield single, moved to second on a wild pitch and stole third. Two walks loaded the bases and with two down, Martellini smoked one to right for a bases-clearing double. Braren followed with a single over the head of the leaping shortstop to plate Martellini.
• Alu added a run in the seventh on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly as the Eagles loaded the bases on two walks and a single by Galland.
• Palomaki increased the lead to eight with a solo shot to lead off the eighth.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Pitt now has the all-time series advantage 28-25, 6-3 in the ACC. The Eagles halted T=the Panthers’ four-game win streak with the victory but Pitt has won all three ACC meetings, 2-1, since 2014.
• Sophomore Brian Dempsey‘s six-game hit streak ended, tying a career long. He drew a walk in the seventh and has now reached base safely in the 26 of the 29 games this season.
• The last time the BC pitching staff recorded a one-hitter was a 3-1 win at Duke on April 14, 2017 when current junior Jacob Stevens and Donovan Caseycompleted the feat.
• The victory marked the second shutout of the season for the Eagle. They recorded an 8-0 win at UNC Asheville on March 6.
• The Eagles tallied at least 10 hits for the 16^th time this season.
• BC did not record an error for the 13^th time this season.

UP NEXT
The Eagles host the 2018 Beanpot Tournament on Tuesday, April 10 at the Brighton Baseball Field. They will play Massachusetts in the consolation game at 3 p.m. while Northeastern and Harvard will battle for the title in the second game 45 minutes after.