April 17, 2003

Box Score

STORRS, Conn. - Sophomore Drew Locke's two-run single in the top of the ninth broke a 3-3 tie and sophomore closer Ryan Morgan (Weymouth, Mass.) survived a pressure-packed ninth as Boston College managed to split a doubleheader against Connecticut with a 5-4 win in the second game Thursday, April 17 at J.O. Christian Field. The Eagles dropped the first game, 5-3.

With the bases loaded and one out, Locke slapped the first pitch he saw from reliever Mike James between first and second base, driving in junior catcher Garrett Greer (Peabody, Mass.) and senior designated hitter Vinny Scavone (Seffner, Fla.) to put the Eagles up 5-3.

In the bottom of the inning, Morgan gave up a two-out RBI double to shortstop Brett Burnham, putting runners on second and third. After an intentional walk to first baseman Peter Soteropoulos, Morgan struck out catcher Mike Leonard to end the game and earn his eighth save of the season.

The two teams battled through 4-1/2 scoreless innings before Connecticut put up a three-spot in the fifth. Center fielder Russ D'Argento drove in the game's first run with an RBI double down the left-field line. Two batters later, Leonard ripped a triple to right, plating two.

With the score still 3-0 in the eighth, the Eagles (18-14, 5-5 BIG EAST) put runners on second and third with no outs, prompting UConn to go to its bullpen. Starting pitcher Tim Norton was replaced by Keith Potvin, who gave up an RBI infield single to junior second baseman Josh DiScipio (Schenectady, N.Y.) and a sacrifice fly to Locke, bringing Boston College to within one at 3-2.

James then took over for Potvin and, after striking out the first batter he faced, gave up an RBI single to left off the bat of sophomore third baseman Jason Delaney (Hanson, Mass.) that tied the game at 3-3.

Bouncing back from a rough outing his last time out to earn the win was sophomore Kevin Shepard (Andover, Mass.), whose record improves to 5-2. He allowed three runs (none earned) on eight hits in eight innings.

In the first game, the Eagles loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second, but were only able to plate one run, that coming on a sacrifice fly to center by senior shortstop Ryan Leahy (Salem, Mass.).

UConn designated hitter Tim Dempsey tied things up in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single down the right-field line. After a fielder's choice, D'Argento crushed a two-run home run to left to give the Huskies (18-15, 7-7 BE) a 3-1 lead.

Burnham's two-out RBI single in the fourth made it a 4-1 game.

Two Boston College runs in the sixth cut the deficit to 4-3. Greer led off with a walk, went to second on a Leahy single, advanced to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a Husky throwing error. Later in the inning, Lederhos and DiScipio pulled off a double steal, with DiScipio scoring from third on the play with BC's third run.

Soteropoulos gave his team a little insurance in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single to center, stretching UConn's advantage to 5-3, and James pitched a perfect ninth to record his eighth save of the season.

The story of the game was missed opportunities by the Eagles, who left at least one runner on base in each of the first six innings. They stranded 11 men in the game.

Leahy, Locke, Morgan and Scavone had two hits apiece for BC.

Sophomore Chris Lambert (Manchester, N.H.) suffered the loss, dropping his record to 4-2. He gave up five runs (all earned) on nine hits, striking out five and walking three.

Boston College travels to Piscataway, N.J., on Saturday, April 19 for a noon doubleheader against Rutgers.