Boston College
Virginia Tech
Baseball Splits Crucial Doubleheader With Virginia Tech
May 11, 2002 | Baseball
May 11, 2002
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The Boston College baseball team (28-19, 14-8 BIG EAST) missed out on its opportunity to take over possession of first place in the BIG EAST after splitting a doubleheader with conference leader Virginia Tech (27-23, 15-7 BIG EAST) on Saturday afternoon at Shea Field. The Eagles cruised in game one defeating the Hokies, 8-1, but fell in the second contest, 15-7.
This now sets up a critical third game for both teams, which will be at 11 a.m. Sunday at Shea Field. Due to potential bad weather in the area, the start of the game was moved up one hour. The Eagles will need to take game three to move back into a tie for the conference lead with Virginia Tech. More importantly, the Eagles would own the head-to-head against the Hokies.
Senior pitcher Mark Sullivan (10-2) was masterful in picking up his 10th victory of the season. He finished the afternoon scattering four hits in seven innings of work. Sullivan allowed only the one run (earned) while walking two and striking out eight Virginia Tech batters.
Virginia Tech starting pitcher Joe Saunders (7-2), who is considered one of the top college prospects in the country, picked up the loss for the Hokies. He went six complete innings allowing 10 hits, eight runs (four earned), two walks and struck out four BC batters. Saunders entered the game with an incredible 1.47 ERA in BIG EAST games.
With Sullivan in total control from a pitching standpoint, the Eagles were able to get down to business from the plate. Leading the way was catcher Jeff Mackor, who fell shy a home run in his bid for the cycle. The senior went 3-for-4 from the plate with a single, double and a triple. He also scored one run and recorded three RBI.
Mackor drove in the first run of the game, which came in the first, when he singled through the right side allowing left fielder Neal McCarthy to score from second. The Eagles other run in the first came when center fielder Drew Locke scored from third following a passed ball.
Boston College posted four runs in the second inning to move the score to 6-1. First baseman Vinny Scavone got things going when he hit his first of two home runs on the afternoon. For Scavone, who homered to right field, it was his eighth of the season. The next run came off the bat of right fielder Brian Macchi, who laced a double down the left field line allowing second baseman Josh DiScipio to score from second. Mackor posted the final two runs when he tripled to right field scoring Macchi and McCarthy.
The other two RBI were posted by third baseman Jason Delaney, who hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning scoring Mackor, and Macchi, who singled to right field scoring center fielder Drew Locke. Macchi and Locke both recorded two hits apiece in the first contest. Virginia Tech shortstop Spencer Harris was the only player to record two hits off of Sullivan.
The second game did not go as planed for the Eagles, especially starting pitcher Chris Lambert. The freshman suffered his first loss of the season and his career on Saturday. Lambert (9-1) went only five innings allowing six hits, seven runs (five earned), seven walks while only striking out four Virginia Tech batters.
Boston College relief pitcher Mike Gauthier did not fair much better, as he lasted only two innings giving up seven hits, eight runs (four earned), one walk while striking out two batters.
Of the Eagles' 13 hits in the second contest, DiScipio and McCarthy both recorded three hits apiece. DiScipio hit a towering three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to cut Virginia Tech's lead to 6-5; however, the Hokies would tally eight runs over the next three innings to put the game on ice. McCarthy was consistent in the second game, as all three hits were doubles.
Scavone and Macchi both recorded two hits apiece, but it was not enough to stop Virginia Tech's offensive onslaught. Scavone drilled his ninth home run of the season when he hit a towering shot to center field in the eighth inning.
Spencer Harris continued his solid hitting in the second game for the Hokies. He went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Third baseman John West pounded a three-run shot off Gauthier in the seventh inning.
Virginia Tech starting pitcher Jason Bush (6-4) picked up his sixth win of the season, as he allowed nine hits, six runs (five earned), three walks and struck out four BC batters.
