April 5, 2009

Box Score

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The Boston College baseball team faced a 10-2 deficit in the fifth inning but scored nine unanswered runs - capped by a solo homer from junior Tony Sanchez in the eighth - to come back and stun NC State, 11-10, Sunday afternoon at Eddie Pellagrini Diamond at Commander Shea Field.

Down 10-9 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, sophomore Matt Hamlet chopped a grounder to the third baseman who threw it way over the first baseman's head, allowing Hamlet to get to second. The next pitch was a wild one and went all the way to the backstop. The catcher couldn't find it, though, and Hamlet scored all the way from second to tie the game.

Then during the same at-bat, Sanchez blasted a home run on a full count to center give BC the dramatic game-winning run.

Sanchez went 2-for-4 in the game with the game-winning homer and another RBI. He also scored two runs. Junior Barry Butera went 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple, three RBI and two runs. Sophomore Garret Smith drove in three runs and had a double.

Junior Mike Belfiore picked up his second win of the week after throwing 2.0 innings and allowing two hits while striking out three.

NC State scored six runs in the top of the fifth inning to increase its lead to 10-2, highlighted by a solo home run by Devon Cartwright and a two-run single by Russell Wilson.

BC got a run back in the bottom of the inning to begin the comeback. Junior Robbie Anston walked and got to third via a balk and a fly out to right and then Sanchez brought him home with a single to center on the first pitch of his at-bat.

The Eagles scored three more in the bottom of the sixth to pull within four runs. Belfiore led off with a walk and then Butera ripped a triple off the wall in right to make it 10-4. Smith drove a ball to deep center on the next at-bat to score Butera and cut the lead in half, 10-5.

With two outs in the inning, freshman Brad Zapenas walked and Anston singled to put two runners on. Hamlet then dropped a single in front of the left fielder for another run to cut into the lead even more, 10-6.

Three more runs in the seventh set up the Eagles' amazing win. With one out, Belfiore drew a walk and Butera singled to right to put runners on the corners. Smith then pulled a 1-2 curveball down the line in left for a double and two runs to pull the Eagles within two, 10-8. Redshirt freshman Andrew Lawrence then came on to pinch hit with two outs and delivered a clutch single to score Smith and cut the lead to one, setting up the heroics for the next inning.

Cartwright went 4-for-5 for the Wolfpack (16-15, 6-9 ACC) with a homer, double and two RBI. John Gianis and Kyle Wilson both had three hits while Pratt Maynard drove in three runs. Russell Wilson went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Boston College (19-10, 7-6 ACC) is back in action on Tuesday when it faces Massachusetts in the Beanpot. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, home of the Brockton Rox. All tickets are just $5.