April 22, 2011

Box Score

ATLANTA, Ga. - Mark Pope threw a complete game shutout to lead No. 9 Georgia Tech to a 2-0 win against the Boston College baseball team Friday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.

Sophomore Matt McGovern went 3-for-4 with a double for BC (14-21, 6-12 ACC) while junior Anthony Melchionda was 2-for-4 with a two-bagger. Eight different Eagles pitchers combined to allow just five hits and only one of the runs was earned.

Pope improved to 9-1 on the season after his outing in which he gave up eight hits. He struck out five and did not issue a walk. Jacob Esch provided the only RBI for the Yellow Jackets (28-11, 15-4), which had five different players record a hit. They did not get an extra base hit in the game.

Georgia Tech threatened right away in the bottom of the first by loading the bases with one out. Kyle Wren led off with a single and reached second on a hit-and-run groundout. Matt Skole walked to put men on first and second and then an error in the infield loaded the bases. Junior Andrew Lawrence got out of the jam unscathed by striking out Sam Dove and Daniel Palka.

The Eagles suffered a tough break in the top of the fourth when they were primed to take the first lead of the game. Melchionda hit a two-out double over the first base bag and then Lawrence came up and hit it to the exact same spot. The ball got past the first baseman for a sure run, but hit the umpire and bounced toward the second baseman. Melchionda tried to score but was thrown out at the plate.

The Yellow Jackets broke through in the bottom half of the fourth with a pair of runs and that is all they would need. Palka drew a leadoff walk and after the next two batters were retired, Brandon Thomas singled to move him to second. Wren walked to load the bases and then Esch hit a high chopper to short that he beat out at first to score the first run. A passed ball scored the other to make it 2-0.