May 20, 2009

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. - The Boston College baseball team lost its first game in the 2009 ACC Championship to top-seeded and No. 7 Florida State, 7-2, on Wednesday afternoon at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The Eagles will look to bounce back first thing tomorrow when they face No. 13 Georgia Tech at noon. The Yellow Jackets lost their opener in the first game of the day versus No. 16 Miami, 8-6. The game will be televised live by NESN.

Sean Gilmartin picked up the win for FSU (41-14) after throwing 6.0 innings ans allowing one run on five hits. Sophomore John Leonard was saddled with the loss despite a solid performance, working 5.0 innings and allowing four runs on five hits. He retired eight of the first 11 batters he faced.

Stephen Cardullo and Jason Stidham both had two hits and a double on the day for the Seminoles. Cardullo scored twice while Stidham drove in a pair of runs. Mike McGee added a two-run homer in the fourth.

Sophomore Mickey Wiswall and senior Harry Darling both logged two hits for BC (31-24). Junior Tony Sanchez had an RBI single and also scored a run, tying the BC single-season record of 60 set back in 1999 by Steve Langone and Sean McGowan. Junior Barry Butera drove in the other run for the Eagles.

The Seminoles got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Cardullo lined a single in front of a diving Robbie Anston in center to start the inning and then McGee pulled a 2-2 pitch over The Blue Monster in left for the game's first runs.

FSU responded with two more runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-1 lead. Cardullo led off and singled off the top of the monster in left and then McGee laid down a sacrifice bunt. Leonard turned and fired to third but the throw was over Wiswall's head, allowing Cardullo to score.

Stidham singled and then Stuart Tapley walked to load the bases with nobody out. Tommy Oravetz got a run home with a sac fly to center and the BC bullpen got the job done, not allowing another run to score to keep the damage minimal.

The Seminoles scored three more times in the seventh to put the game away. FSU loaded the bases with one out and then Stidham stepped to the plate and chopped a double over Belfiore at first for two more runs to make it 6-1 Seminoles. Tapley got the other run home with a sac fly to center.

BC tacked on a run in the top of the eighth inning. Sanchez was hit by a pitch with one out and then Wiswall singled through the right side to put two men on base. Belfiore walked to load the bases and then Butera hit into a fielder's choice to get the run home.