Tech splits doubleheader at Boston College

Behind a strong pitching performance, the Hokies win Game 3 of series, 5-2

March 24, 2018

BRIGHTON, Mass. – Walked off in the first game of the day, the Virginia Tech baseball team used a team effort on the mound to take the second game Saturday afternoon at Brighton Field and split the day and get at least one win in the ACC series against Boston College.

Luke Scherzer, Joey Sullivan, Nic Enright and Graham Seitz held the Eagles scoreless through the first seven frames and limited their offense when they got on base. BC had 11 hits in the second game of the doubleheader, but was 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position until the eighth.

By that point, the Hokies offense had given the pitchers a five-run lead as Luke Horanski and Sam Fragale each hit a two-run home run, in the first and fourth frames respectively, and Jack Owens’ RBI single in the seventh made it 5-0.

BC managed to put two on the board in the home half of the eighth to end Tech’s first shutout bid of the year, but Seitz closed the door in the ninth to pick up his first collegiate save. Scherzer earned the win in his third start of the year.

Tech (10-12, 4-5 ACC) was able to battle back from a 2-0 deficit in the first game, thanks to Darion Jacoby, who reached base eight times in the weekend series. He singled in the fifth and worked his way to third with two outs before scoring on a wild pitch.

Down 2-1 in the ninth, the Hokies loaded the bases and with two outs, before Jacoby drew a five-pitch walk to tie the game.

Boston College (9-12, 4-5 ACC), however, ended the first game of the day with a walk-off grand slam by Dante Baldelli.

Inside the Box – Game 1

• Horanski – two hits, sixth multi-hit game of the season/career.
• JD Mundy – went hitless in three at-bats ending his career-long, and a team-long for the season, hitting streak at nine games.
• Owens – did not reach base in four at-bats, ending his team-leading reached base streak at 15 straight.
• Seitz – one scoreless inning pitched, four this season, eight in his career.
• Ian Seymour – season-high tying 7.0 innings pitched (vs. Pittsburgh, March 10); eight strikeouts, fourth start with at least eight strikeouts, fifth with at least five; struck out the side in the seventh, sixth time this season; two perfect frames, 12 for the season; six scoreless innings pitched, 28 for the year.

Inside the Box – Game 2

• Enright – one scoreless inning pitched, 15 for the season, 39 in his career.
• Fragale – home run, second of the season, 25th of his career; two RBI, sixth multi-RBI game of the season, 37th of his career; registered his first game-winning RBI, fourth of his career.
• Joe Freiday, Jr. – two hits, fourth multi-hit game of the season, 21st of his career.
• Horanski – home run, third of the season/career; two RBI, fourth multi-RBI game of the season/career.
• Mundy – scored his second game-winning run.
• Scherzer – 3.0 innings pitched, longest outing since May 18, 2015 (3.1 vs. North Carolina); three scoreless innings, four for the season, 57 in his career; win was the fifth of his career.
• Seitz – save, first of his career; one scoreless inning pitched, five this season, nine in his career.
• Sullivan – two scoreless innings pitched, nine for the season, 72 in his career; three strikeouts, pushing his career total at Tech to 101.

Additional Notes – Both Games

• With the victory in the second game, Tech won its second road ACC game – the team had just one road ACC win last year and two in 2016.
• The win was also the first for head coach John Szefc at Boston College, as he lost the first five games his teams played here (three in 2015 with Maryland).
• The Hokies all-time series against Boston College now stands at 25-19 in favor of the Hokies, but the Eagles hold a 14-7 mark in Massachusetts.
• On this date, Tech is now 21-19, which includes a 9-10 mark on the road and a 4-5 record against ACC opponents.
• Today marked the 24th time the Hokies have played an ACC doubleheader, and it’s split right down the middle with 12 played at home and today marked the 12th on the road. Overall, Tech is now 2-8-14 and 0-5-7 on the road.
• Tech recorded its 16th and 17th double plays of the season during the game.

Up Next

• The Hokies return home for a five-game home stand at English Field at Union Park that starts on Tuesday against Liberty and will continue with an ACC three-game series against NC State. First pitch versus the Flames is scheduled for 4 p.m., while the Wolfpack series starts Thursday also at 4 p.m.

For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @HokiesBaseball