BC Takes Game 3 Behind Great Starting Pitching

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BC Takes Game 3 Behind Great Starting Pitching

It has been written or said many times that good starting pitching will always stop good hitting. On Sunday, another example of that statement was witnessed. Boston College’s Senior Brian Rapp was on top of his game going six and two-thirds of one-hit ball. He did walk six but struck out eight Pittsburgh hitters. His offense came through in the person of Junior Catcher Gian Martinelli. His bases-clearing double to right field would be all Rapp needed for Boston College to win the third game of this home series vs the Panthers 8-0.

Finale vs. Pitt at 1 p.m. Brian Rapp on the hill.

📻 – https://t.co/IDtq6qm47T
📊 – https://t.co/5erE1kqD0Q #Birdball pic.twitter.com/aLakemj4n3

— Boston College Baseball (@BCBirdBall) April 8, 2018

In describing Rapp’s performance, Head Coach Mike Gambino said “his stuff was good, he was great today”. Pittsburgh hitters would agree.

The Panthers countered with Redshirt Junior Blair Calvo, who struggled in his outing. After getting through the first two innings unharmed he ran into trouble in the third. His problems began when he gave up a leadoff double to the number nine batter in the BC order, Joe Suozzi. He would score the game’s first run one out later when Dante Baldelli reached on a fielder choice. Baldelli would later score on a wild pitch after stealing second and reaching third on a passed ball. After three innings the Eagles were up 2-0.

Meanwhile, Rapp was in control. He gave up a walk in the second and it would be erased on a double-play ball. In the fourth, he issued his second free pass of the game, but came back to strike out the side.

Baldelli grounds one to third to score Suoz!

The throw went home (with no tag) so Delli is on first with 1 out.#Birdball pic.twitter.com/JECbrh7DYn

— BC Baseball (@BCBirdBall) April 8, 2018

In the BC half of the fourth, they put the game away. The runs were given up by the Panthers bullpen. Dan Hammer came on in relief of Calvo and Jake Alu got it started with an infield hit. Walks to Jake Palomaki and Jack Cunningham set the stage for Martinelli. With two down and the bases loaded, he delivered a booming drive over the head of right fielder Connor Perry. It scored all three base runners and gave the Eagles a 5-0 lead. Martinelli would score on a Scott Brazen single after four innings Eagles were up 6-0.

With the way Rapp was dealing, the six runs seemed to be enough. He carried a no-hitter into the seventh before DH Ron Washington broke up the no-hit bid with a double to the gap in right-center field. Coach Giambo had his bullpen getting ready, but he did allow Rapp to face one more batter. But after walking Perry, Gambino made the call to the pen.

Thomas Lane was called upon to keep the shutout in tack, and he did getting Nico Popa to fly out to left field to end the inning.

Boston College added single runs in the seventh on an Alu sac fly and on a HR to left field by Palomaki, his third of the season to make the final score 8-0 Eagles.

The win snapped an eight losing streak for Boston College, their longest such streak of the season. The Eagles are now 10-19 overall and 5-10 in league play. Rapp improves to .500 on the season at 3-3.

Pittsburgh drops to 17-11 and 6-9 in the ACC. Calvo record falls to 1-2.

Boston College has a pair of mid-week games on tap. First up, the consolation of the Beanpot tournament on Tuesday vs UMass.