Brian Dempsey RBI single gives Boston College 2-1 victory

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Brian Dempsey RBI single in the eighth inning gives Boston College 2-1 victory over Louisville

Senior day at Boston College and seven members of the Eagles were honored before the game for their contribution to the baseball program. Once the ceremonies were over, Boston College went out and played arguably their best all-around game of the conference season. Sophomore Brian Dempsey’s RBI single to center field scored Jack Cunningham with the go-ahead run, and Junior Thomas Lane threw two shutout innings to pick up his second win of the season. Boston College avoided a sweep with a 2-1 victory over the Louisville Cardinals.

Today we honor our senior class! Thank you for all you've done for this program: Biggie, Chief, G, Ant, Mak, BRapp and Spags! pic.twitter.com/tQA9s6GBZq

— Boston College Baseball (@BCBirdBall) May 6, 2018

Brian Rapp, one of BC’s seven seniors got the ball to start this game and he was very good. He pitched seven strong innings, allowing four hits, one earned run, four walks and five strikeouts. Rapp would get a no-decision in this one, but his head coach Mike Gambino praised his performance after the game.

The Louisville starting pitcher Bobby Miller was just as good. He came into this start with an earned run average of under one. Miller also went seven good innings allowing five hits and one earned run. Miller walked two and strikeout four and his ERA jumped up to 0.97 after his outing.

A tied game entering the bottom of the eighth inning, Louisville’s head coach Dan McDonnell decides to go to his bullpen. He called on Bryan Hoeing to start the frame. Hoeing gave up a leadoff single to Chris Galland and the next man up was Cunningham who was asked to bunt Galland along. His bunt was a good one out in front of the plate. He would beat the throw to first base. However, quick thinking by Cardinals first baseman Logan Wyatt resulted in throwing out Galland trying to get to third on the play. A big assist to Louisville Pitcher Hoeing who ran over to cover the base and tag out Galland.

With now one out and a man on first, Eagles catcher Gian Martellini kept the inning alive by singling to center field and Cunningham stopped at second base. Next man up was Scott Braren who hit a ground ball to second baseman Devin Mann, who got run over by Martellini trying to field the ball. Somehow, Mann as he was falling to the ground, flipped the ball to shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald to get the force on Martellini with Cunningham moving to third base. McDonnell argued the call saying interference should have been called and the play should have been dead with Cunningham going back to second base.

The second base umpire Frank Sylvester let the play stand as called and the Eagles now had runners at the corners with two out the inning. Up stepped Dempsey to face Hoeing. The Eagles have been here before and not been able to come through. This time they did, as Dempsey came through with his third hit of the game. A sharp single to center field scoring Cunningham from third with the go-ahead run. 2-1 Boston College.

Have a day Brian Dempsey! He singles to center to score Cunny and put the Birds on top, 2-1!#Birdball pic.twitter.com/60rDw5GhXS

— Boston College Baseball (@BCBirdBall) May 6, 2018

Thomas Lane was BC’s choice to pick up for Rapp. In his two innings of work, he gave up only two walks. With two down in the ninth Lane committed a cardinal mistake by walking the number nine hitter Zack Britton who was pinch ran for by Lucas Dunn. With leadoff hitter Fitzgerald at the plate, Dunn tried to get into scoring position by stealing second base. He was thrown out by Martellini to end the ballgame with Fitzgerald at the dish. Boston College gets the hard fought 2-1 victory and salvages a game in this series.

Lane’s two innings of work gave him his second victory of the year against five defeats. For Boston College, it was the seventh win to go along with twenty defeats in league play. Overall they are 16-30.

Hoeing, out of the Cardinals pen, took the loss. His record is now five and two. His team is now at .500 in the ACC at 12-12. Overall. The Cardinals are 32-15.

The Birds end the series with a 2-1 victory over Louisville on Senior Day! #Birdball pic.twitter.com/KuzrHGPC5m

— Boston College Baseball (@BCBirdBall) May 6, 2018

After the game, Gambino talked a bit about the class that is now leaving his program. In thanking them, he pointed out that when they came to BC, they had nothing. No facility to call their own. Now that has changed with the building of the Harrington Village.

Boston College has a week off for final exams and they will play their final home game of 2018, next Tuesday when they host Maine.