Boston College
Rutgers (The BIG EAST Championship)
Baseball Falls To Rutgers, 4-2, In Season Finale
May 24, 2002 | Baseball
May 24, 2002
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. - The Boston College baseball team concluded its 2002 season Friday afternoon, as it fell to Rutgers, 4-2, in the elimination game of the BIG EAST Tournament at Commerce Bank Ballpark. With the loss, the Eagles finish the season with a 30-25. Rutgers (33-21) will try to stave off elimination again this evening, as it plays the loser of the Notre Dame-Virginia Tech at 7 p.m.
Freshman Kevin Shepard was scheduled to get the start for Boston College, but due to lingering injury he was sidelined for Friday's contest. Also with senior Mark Sullivan serving the final game of a four-game suspension, head coach Pete Hughes had to turn to freshman Jake Marsello to start the contest. Marsello, who entered the game with a 1-2 mark, had only made 12 appearances during the 2002 season and only two of those were in a starting capacity.
Following two strong innings by Marsello to start to the game, the Scarlet Knights got things going in the third. Rutgers posted four runs off of three hits to take a 4-0 advantage. After a walk to designated hitter Cory Rodriquez, second baseman Graig Badger knocked a single to center field scoring Rodriquez for the first run.
After advancing to second on right fielder Eric Wright's throw following his single and then moving to third on a wild pitch, left fielder Jeff Frazier hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Badger from third. Rutgers recorded two more runs when third baseman Ryan Lillis singled to right field, which scored right fielder Val Majewski and first baseman Steve Normane.
Boston College cut the lead to 4-1in the third when short stop Ryan Morgan, who went 2-for-4, drilled a double down the right field line off of Rutgers pitcher Tom Wheeler allowing second baseman Josh DiScipio to score from first. DiScipio reached base on a walk, which made him Boston College's first baserunner of the game.
The Eagles continued to battle, and in the seventh inning designated hitter Brian Durkin drilled his 14th home run of the season. The 2002 first team All-BIG EAST selection concluded his collegiate career with 28 home runs, which puts him third on the Boston College all-time home run list.
Boston College made the game interesting in the eighth, as it loaded the bases with one out. Morgan and center fielder Eric Wright got on base with singles. The Eagles loaded the bases when catcher Jeff Mackor was walked by Rutgers relief pitcher Ryan Molchan. Boston College's chance at taking the lead were dashed when center fielder Drew Locke grounded into a 5-3 double play to end the inning
In the ninth, third baseman Jason Delaney got things going by doubling down the left field line with two outs. With a chance a tying the game with a home run, senior Neal McCarthy grounded out to the second baseman to end the game.
Marsello (1-3) pitched six complete innings for the Eagles, as he allowed six hits, four runs (all earned), three walks while striking out two batters. The freshman finished the game throwing 93 pitches. Sophomore Mike Gauthier and junior Matt Elfeldt pitched the final three innings for the Eagles, as they combined to give up one, two walks and strikeout one batter.
Wheeler (9-3) picked up his ninth win of the season in strong fashion, as he went seven innings allowing four hits, two runs (both earned), two walks while striking out four Boston College batters. Jason Bergmann earned the save for the Scarlet Knights, as he went 1.2 innings allowing only one hit and one walk.
