Boston College
New York Tech
Baseball Defeats NYIT In Non-Conference Game, 12-8
May 04, 2002 | Baseball
May 4, 2002
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The Boston College baseball team got back on the winning track as it defeated non-conference foe New York Institute of Technology, 12-8, on Saturday afternoon at Shea Field. With the win, the Eagles ended a two-game losing streak and more importantly moved their overall record to 25-18. With the loss, the Bears fall to 25-16 on the season.
The game did not start off as planned for the Bears as starting pitcher Brandon Kurz lasted only two-thirds of an inning. He was taken out of the game following a line drive by BC designated hitter Brian Durkin ricocheted of his left foot. He was then carried off the field by teammates. Kurz (4-4), who was credited with the loss, gave up two hits, two runs (one earned) while striking out one Boston College batter.
Shortstop Ryan Morgan got things going for the Eagles, as he hit a lead-off home run in the first inning to center field. For Morgan, it was his second home run of the season. Catcher Jeff Mackor scored the second run of the inning for BC, which came following Durkin's shot that knocked Kurz out of the game.
After the Bears cut the lead to 2-1, right fielder Brian Macchi ripped his fifth home run of the season when he drilled a two-run shot to right field. Macchi's home run allowed left fielder Neal McCarthy to score all the way from first base. The home run barrage continued in fourth inning as first baseman Vinny Scavone connected on a two-run shot, which scored third baseman Jason Delaney.
With the score 6-2 following the top of the fifth, designated hitter Brian Durkin ripped a two-run double, which scored center fielder Drew Locke and Mackor. Durkin, who belted his team-leading 11th home run of the season in the seventh, finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with one run scored and five RBI. Durkin's home run in the seventh, which scored Locke, made the score 10-4.
The Bears continued to fight despite using a total of seven pitchers. NYIT posted three runs in the top half of the eighth inning to cut the lead to 10-7; however, McCarthy put the game on ice when he blasted a two-run shot in the eighth to bump the score up to 12-7. The Bears posted one more run in the ninth, but it was not enough.
Morgan and McCarthy were the only players besides Durkin to post two or more hits in the game. Senior pitcher Mark Sullivan (9-2) picked up his ninth win of the season despite not having his best stuff. Sullivan went eight innings allowing nine hits, seven runs (four earned), four walks while striking out five batters. The Eagles' fielding woes continued, as they piled up seven errors on the afternoon.
For the Bears, shortstop Mike Gaffney just missed hitting for the cycle, as he went 4-for-5 with two singles, a double and a triple. Second baseman Jelani Arnold and third baseman Tom Merkle both registered two hits apiece.
Boston College and New York Institute of Technology will conclud their three-game series on Sunday when the two teams play a doubleheader. The first pitch of the afternoon will go off at 12 p.m. Freshmen Chris Lambert (8-0) and Kevin Shepard (3-2) are the scheduled starting pitchers for the Eagles on Sunday.
