Boston College Athletics
Boston College
Pittsburgh
Baseball Rebounds With Sweep Of Pittsburgh
March 30, 2002 | Baseball
March 30, 2002
PITTSBURGH - The Boston College baseball team (14-10, 5-2 BIG EAST) earned its second sweep this season against a BIG EAST opponent, as it defeated Pittsburgh (16-7-1, 3-4 BIG EAST), 5-3 and 17-8, Saturday afternoon at Trees Field. The two wins over the Panthers got the Eagles back on the winning track, after they dropped a doubleheader to Connecticut back on Thursday.
The 17 runs the Eagles racked up in game two were the most runs posted by a Boston College team in a BIG EAST Conference game since they defeated Connecticut, 25-11, back on April 2, 1999.
In game one, freshman pitcher Chris Lambert (5-0) picked up his fifth win of the season, as he went all seven innings. He gave up only five hits, three runs (all earned), walked three and struck out five Panthers' batters. The Eagles took the lead in the seventh inning as designated hitter Brian Durkin led off with a solo shot to center field, and they added an insurance run on an RBI-fielder's choice. For Durkin, it was his fourth home run of the season. Lambert was able to shut down the Panthers 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning to seal the victory.
Of the eight hits registered by the Eagles in game one, short stop Ryan Morgan led the squad with two hits. Second baseman Josh DiScipio continued his strong play for head coach Pete Hughes' squad, as he recorded his first triple of the season.
In the second game, Boston College erupted for eight runs in the first three innings to grab an 8-3 lead. Third baseman Jason Delaney provided most of the punch for the Eagles as he blasted a three-run home run in the second inning and a grand slam in the third inning. Delaney finished the contest 4-for-4 with seven RBIs and three runs. He entered the game with the best batting average on the team, which was .394 (minimum 30 at bats). For the freshman, it was his first and second home runs of his career.
The Eagles jumped out to a 9-3 lead through four innings, but the Panthers cut the lead to 9-6 but that was as close as they would get. Boston College posted six runs in the top of the eighth inning to put the game well out of reach. Senior pitcher Mark Sullivan also picked up his fifth win of the season (5-1), as he went eight innings allowing 14 hits, eight runs (all earned), two walks and struck out eight Pittsburgh batters.
Durkin, who had five RBI in the second contest, recorded his team-leading fifth home run of the season, while right fielder Brian Macchi drilled a two-run shot for his second of the season. Catcher Jeff Mackor had a solid second game for the Eagles, as he went 3-for-5 with four runs.
The Eagles are back in action at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, when they take on Ivy League foe Brown at Shea Field. In 2001, Boston College and Brown split a doubleheader in Providence. Brown took game one, 3-1, while Boston College rebounded to take the second contest, 17-4. The next BIG EAST match-up for the Eagles is next weekend when they play three games against Seton Hall in South Orange, N.J.
