Boston College Athletics
Boston College
Maryland
Dennhardt, Moir Lead Baseball To Doubleheader Sweep of Maryland
April 10, 2010 | Baseball
April 10, 2010
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Sophomore Mike Dennhardt threw a complete game shutout in game one and then redshirt freshman Rob Moir drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th in the nightcap to lead the Boston College baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Maryland on Saturday at Eddie Pellagrini Diamond at Commander Shea Field.
Dennhardt was dominant on the mound in the first game, tossing the first complete game of his career. He scattered six hits and struck out five while walking two. He threw 108 pitches on the day and 76 of them were strikes.
Dennhardt finished the game strong, retiring 12 of the last 13 batters - including 10 in a row - from the sixth to ninth innings.
In game two, BC was losing 4-2 and down to its last out in the bottom of the ninth before tying it up. Sophomore Brad Zapenas led off with a single and after two outs were recorded, junior Mickey Wiswall crushed a 1-0 pitch over the wall in center to send the game into extra innings.
Freshman Philip Miclat led off in the bottom of the 10th and fought off a few pitches to draw a walk and then junior Garret Smith laid down a sac bunt, but the pitcher threw the ball into center field trying to get the lead runner. An intentional walk loaded the bases and then Moir singled up the middle for the walk-off win.
It was the first RBI of Moir's career.
Sophomore Anthony Melchionda and Zapenas both had three hits in the two games for the Eagles (15-15, 6-8 ACC). Melchionda scored three times and hit a double and a triple. Junior Kevin Moran got the win in game two, pitching 2.2 innings of relief and allowing an unearned run.
GAME ONE
Boston College scored single runs in the third, fifth, sixth and eighth innings while Dennhardt held the Terrapins (12-21, 3-11) at bay.
Melchionda led off the bottom of the third and reached second when the right fielder dropped a fly ball and then Smith sacrificed him over to third. Zapenas then ripped the first pitch he saw to left for an RBI single.
Zapenas started things off in the fifth with a leadoff base hit and then junior Matt Hamlet walked to put a pair on base with one out. Senior John Spatola delivered an RBI single with two down.
With one out in the sixth inning, Melchionda doubled to the gap in left with one out and then Smith battled at the plate and hit a two-bagger the other way, but Melchionda was tagging and he only moved up 90 feet. After a short fly out to center, Melchionda scored on a wild pitch.
Freshman Matt Watson led off the eighth with a single up the middle and then sophomore Andrew Lawrence walked to put the first two batters on base. Melchionda moved them both into scoring position with a sac bunt and senior Mike Sudol hit a pinch hit RBI single to make it 4-0.
Maryland's best chance to score came in the top of the sixth inning. Brandon Padula led off and got into scoring position with an infield single and a throwing error moved him up to second. David Poutier chopped a soft grounder to short for another infield hit to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Dennhardt forced Matt Marquis to pop out and then a sac bunt gave BC the second out. Dennhardt then handled a liner back to him to get away unscathed.
GAME TWO
The Terrapins scored their first run of the day in the first inning of game two. Alfredo Rodriguez and Poutier started the game with consecutive singles and Poutier took second on the throw to put both in scoring position. Sophomore Taylor Lasko escaped major damage though, allowing just one run on a groundout.
BC took the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Melchionda led off with a triple over the head of the center fielder and then Lawrence pulled a double down the first base line to tie the game. He moved to third on a wild pitch and senior Robbie Anston drove him in with a sac fly to left to give BC a 2-1 advantage.
Poutier deadlocked the game in the top of the sixth when he lifted a solo home run into the steady wind in left.
Padula singled on the next pitch and got to second on a passed ball. He reached third on out number two of the inning, then a bad hop at first allowed Marquis an RBI single to give the Terps the lead back, 3-2.
A couple of errors in the top of the ninth gave Maryland some insurance that it needed. Marquis led off and got on second base with a single and an error in left field. Jack Cleary grounded out for the second out of the inning, but Marquis rounded third aggressively and Wiswall tried to pick him off. The throw went wide and Marquis was able to score, setting up Wiswall and Moir for their heroics.
Lasko had a strong start on the mound for BC, throwing 6.2 innings and allowing three runs - two earned - on five hits. He struck out two and walked one but did not get a decision.
The series finale is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m.
