Boston College Baseball: Sheehan’s Gem Spoiled in Walk-Off Defeat

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BLACKSBURG, Va. – Junior right-hander Emmet Sheehan (Darien, Conn.) struck out 12, but it was not enough as Boston College baseball was walked off by No. 13 Virginia Tech in a 6-5 at English Field on Friday. The Eagles led 5-0 in the seventh, but the Hokies climbed back, including a three-run ninth, to even the series.

Sheehan was dominant on the mound for six innings in a 6.1-inning start as both runs came after his 12^th strikeout started the bottom of the seventh. Only one run was earned as he scattered five hits and walked just one.

Virginia Tech (14-9, 10-7 ACC) added another run in the eighth to trim the Boston College (13-12, 4-10) lead to two heading to the ninth. BC called on sophomore right-hander Max Gieg (Lynn, Mass.) to close it out. A first-pit hit batter and an infield single chopped over the mound instantly put the tying runs on base. Gieg (0-2) twice dealt with the bases loaded, first trading an out for a run on a sacrifice-fly before ultimately losing the game on a two-run, two-out single by third baseman Kevin Madden.

Right-hander Griffin Green (1-0) pitched 2.2-scoreless innings of relief to keep Va. Tech in the game and earned the win. He struck out four and allowed just one hit.

For the second day in a row, Boston College jumped out to an early lead with a run in the top of the first. The Eagles took advantage of a three-base error and junior second baseman Cody Morissette (Exeter, N.H.) delivered the run with a base hit. BC added to its lead an inning later with a two-run home run to right by junior catcher Peter Burns (Reading, Mass.); his second of the weekend.

DETAILS
Score: No. 13 Virginia Tech 6, Boston College 5
Records: Virginia Tech 14-9, 10-7; Boston College 13-12, 4-10
Location: English Field
Attendance: 438

BC Highlights

The Eagles took advantage of a three-base error in the first with a Morissette RBI-single to take the first lead of the day.
Leary singled and Burns followed with a two-run home run to right in the second.
Sheehan struck out three and stranded two in the fourth.
Baldelli added a run in the sixth, driving in Burns with a single to right.

Game Notes

Virginia Tech leads the all-time series, 26-23.
BC pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts for the first time since fanning 19 in a 15-inning game against NC State (3/21/15).
Burns hit his second home run of the weekend, third of the season, and fifth of his career.
Morissette recorded his sixth multi-hit game of the season and 35^th of his career.
Sheehan struck out a career-high 12 batters to become the first BC pitcher with 10 or more since Dan Metzdorf’s 13 vs. Virginia Tech in 2018.

UP NEXT
The series rubber match is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. on ACCNX. Graduate RHP Alex Stiegler (Dallas, Texas) gets the ball for the Eagles.