Boston College Athletics
Boston College
Holy Cross
Baseball Loses at Holy Cross, 8-2
March 25, 2009 | Baseball
March 25, 2009
Box Score
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WORCESTER, Mass. - Nick Ciardiello recorded five RBI and hit a three-run homer as Holy Cross beat the Boston College baseball team, 8-2, Wednesday night at Fitton Field.
Four Holy Cross pitchers allowed just five hits and two runs - both unearned. Chris Blanchard picked up the win after tossing 5.0 innings and striking out four.
Junior Mike Belfiore and sophomore Mickey Wiswall drove in the only runs for the Eagles. Both went 1-for-3 and Wiswall had a double. Senior Matt O'Brien threw 2.0 innings against his former team and did not allow a hit. O'Brien played three seasons at Holy Cross before joining BC this year.
The Crusaders wasted no time and put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Matt Perry shot a 1-1 pitch to the gap in left for a leadoff double and then John Sills singled up the middle to give Holy Cross a quick 1-0 lead. Sills then took second when the ball was bobbled in center. Eric Oxford moved him over to third with a groundout to the right side and Ciardiello brought him home when he grounded out to short.
Holy Cross posted another run in the third to extend the lead to three. After freshman Taylor Lasko retired the first two batters of the inning, Oxford and Ciardello hit back-to-back doubles for the Crusaders' 3-0 lead.
Holy Cross put the game out of reach by posting five runs in the fourth. Chris Sintetos led off and took a 3-1 pitch to center for a single and then Eddie Bleiler laid down a bunt in front of catcher Tony Sanchez who went to second with it, but the throw was off and it put runners on the corners. On the next pitch, Brendan McCrea cleared the bases with a triple over Robbie Anston in center to give Holy Cross a 5-0 lead.
With two outs and two runners on later in the inning, Ciardiello hit a three-run homer to deep left to cushion the lead to 8-0.
The Eagles finally broke through in the top of the sixth with two runs. Sanchez drew a two-out walk and then Wiswall roped a double down the line in right to plate BC's first run. Belfiore then took a pitch through the left side for a single to bring home Wiswall.
BC (14-7) will host nationally-ranked Clemson this weekend for a three-game ACC Atlantic Division series. The Eagles sit atop the division standings at 4-3 while Clemson is in second at 5-4. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Shea Field.
