Boston College Athletics
Boston College
New York Tech
Baseball Completes Weekend Sweep Of New York Tech
May 05, 2002 | Baseball
May 5, 2002
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The Boston College baseball team will head into final exam week on a three-game winning streak following its doubleheader sweep of New York Institute of Technology on Sunday afternoon, 9-4 and 20-1, at Shea Field. More importantly, the Eagles will head into next weekend's BIG EAST series with Virginia Tech on a positive note.
With the two wins on Sunday, Boston College now stands at 27-18 on the season, while New York Tech drops to 25-18.
In game one, BC freshman pitcher Chris Lambert was able to move his season record to 9-0 despite not having his best stuff. He went seven complete innings, as he gave up 10 hits, four runs (three earned), and four walks while striking out nine Bears' batters. He also did something on Sunday that he has not done the entire season, which is give up a home run. In the top of the third, third baseman Tom Merkle belted a two-run shot to right center. For Merkle, it was his 18th home run of the season. Merkle finished the first game going 3-for-4 with one run scored and four RBI.
The Eagles' offense pounded out 11 hits in the first contest. Leading the way was left fielder Neal McCarthy, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. His three RBI came in the fourth inning when he crushed a three-run home run to right field.
Besides McCarthy, right fielder Brian Macchi, designated hitter Brian Durkin and third baseman Jason Delaney all registered two hits apiece. Durkin, Delaney and center fielder Drew Locke all had a double, while catcher Jeff Mackor recorded a triple in the first inning, which scored Macchi all the way from first base.
For the Eagles in game two, it was their largest offensive output of the season. Prior to today's 20 runs, Boston College had posted 17 runs in three separate games (Davidson - 2/17, Lehigh - 3/8, Pittsburgh - 3/30). The 21 hits recorded in the second game were also a season high.
In the first and second innings combined, Boston College recorded 12 hits. An amazing statistic from the game was that of the 21 hits, 19 of them were singles. McCarthy and second baseman Josh DiScipio both tallied a double during the game.
Freshman pitcher Kevin Shepard (4-2) was solid for head coach Pete Hughes in his five innings of work. Shepard allowed only five hits, one run (earned), one walk while striking out five Bears' batters. Following Shepard's five innings, freshman Jake Marsello, senior Mike Stuart, sophomore James Dawson and freshman James Cox pitched by committee to close out the game. Shepard's one run was the only one given up by the five pitchers. They all combined to give up only seven hits.
DiScipio was outstanding from a hitting standpoint, as he went 5-for-6 with four singles, a double, two runs scored and one RBI. Durkin continued his tear from the plate, as he went a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs scored and five RBI. In the three games this weekend, Durkin went 9-for-11 (.818) with 11 RBI and five runs scored. Locke also chipped in with three hits in the game. Locke is batting an amazing .452 in 35 games this season, which is the best on the squad and ranks him in the top 10 in the nation in batting average.
Boston College next hits the field on Saturday, April 11, for the start of its biggest conference series of the season up to this point when it takes on Virginia Tech at Shea Field. The Eagles and Hokies will play a doubleheader on Saturday with the first pitch going off at 12 p.m.
With the Eagles being idle this past weekend in the BIG EAST and Virginia Tech sweeping Connecticut, the Hokies stand-alone in first place in the conference. Boston College is now tied with Notre Dame, who took 2-of-3 from Rutgers this weekend, for second place in the conference.
