Boston College
Villanova
Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Conference Foe Villanova
April 20, 2002 | Baseball
April 20, 2002
PHILADELPHIA - The Boston College baseball team entered this weekend's critical BIG EAST series against Villanova with intentions of staying atop the conference standings. Following Saturday's doubleheader with the Wildcats at Veterans Stadium, the Eagles moved one step closer to achieving that goal despite a split with Villanova.
Boston College (22-14, 11-5 BIG EAST) defeated Villanova (23-16, 7-8 BIG EAST), 10-1, in game one, but dropped the second contest in dramatic fashion, 11-10. Despite splitting the doubleheader with the Wildcats, the Eagles pounded out 32 hits over the two games.
The story of game one was Boston College freshman sensation Chris Lambert. Lambert moved his overall record to a conference best 7-0 after helping lead the Eagles to a convincing win in the opener. He pitched six complete innings for head coach Pete Hughes, as he gave up only four hits, one run (earned), three walks and struck out eight Villanova batters. Junior Mike Stuart came in the game in the seventh inning to close the game out, as the only thing on his line was one base hit.
The Eagles' offense put up four runs in the first inning and four in the sixth, which is all Lambert would need to keep his pitching record perfect on the season. Former BIG EAST co-Players of the Week Drew Locke and Vinny Scavone had solid offensive outings in the first contest. Locke went 3-for-4 from the plate and scored two runs, while Scavone was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with two runs and two RBI.
Right fielder Brian Macchi, short stop Ryan Morgan and catcher Jeff Mackor all chipped in with two hits a piece in the Eagles' hitting onslaught. One of Macchi's hits was a triple, while Mackor chipped in with a double. The three players combined for six RBI in the first contest. The only hit of the first game for left fielder Brian Durkin was a solo home run in the seventh inning, which was his seventh of the season.
Villanova starting pitcher John Yeager (3-2) picked up the loss, as he went five innings giving up nine hits, five runs (all earned), one walk and struck out three Boston College batters.
Unlike game one, game two was one of the craziest games of the season in the BIG EAST. Following its disappointing loss in game one, Villanova looked to exact some revenge on Boston College in the second contest.
The Wildcats lit up Boston College starting pitcher Mark Sullivan for six runs in the first two innings to take a convincing 6-0 lead. One thing that has made the Eagles so strong this season is their willingness to never give up when down in a game, and that is exactly what they did after falling behind by six.
The Eagles rebounded with six runs of their own in the fourth and fifth innings combined to knot the score up at 6-6. Both Sullivan and Villanova starting pitcher Brian Slocum only lasted 4.1 innings each. Sullivan gave up nine hits, seven runs (five earned), zero walks and struck out two batters, while Slocum also gave up nine hits, six runs (all earned), zero walks and struck out three batters.
After Boston College took a 7-6 lead over the Panthers, Villanova posted three runs in its half of the fifth and sixth innings to take a 9-7 lead heading into the seventh inning. In their half of the seventh inning, the Eagles posted three runs to take a 10-9 advantage. With an incredible comeback looming for Boston College, Villanova scored one run in the seventh and one in the eighth to regain the lead - one it would not relinquish.
Macchi was hero for the Eagles in the second game, as he belted his third and fourth home runs of the season while driving in four runs. Morgan and Locke continued their incredible afternoons from the plate, as they combined to go 7-for-12 from the plate with two runs and four RBI.
Pitcher Matt Elfeldt (0-2) was credited with the loss for Boston College, as he went 3.2 innings giving up five hits, four runs (all earned), and three walks while striking out three Villanova batters.
Boston College and Villanova will conclude its three-game series at 12 p.m. Sunday at Richie Ashburn Field in Villanova, Pa.
