March 24, 2012
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College rallied with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and walked off with 4-3 win over No. 14 Georgia Tech Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Commander Shea Field in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Blake Butera lined a base hit into right field to score Spenser Payne for the winning run, two batters after the Eagles (9-12, 2-6) tied the game on a play that the Yellow Jackets (14-9, 3-5) appeared to turn a game-ending double play.
With the bases loaded and Tech leading 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth with one out, pinch-hitter Tyler Hinchliffe rolled a ground ball to shortstop Mott Hyde, who fired to second to get the lead runner. Connor Winn’s relay throw to first was ruled not in time and the game was tied at 3-3.
The ninth-inning rally, in which both runs were unearned, spoiled another quality appearance by junior RHP Luke Bard. Making his second straight start, Bard allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings with no walks and six strikeouts, turning the 3-2 lead over to the bullpen.
Brandon Thomas and Hyde each had two of Tech’s seven hits and Sam Dove’s first-inning single allowed him to extend his career-best hitting streak to 15 games.
The Jackets went to work on BC starter Hunter Gordon in the first inning, as three consecutive singles from Thomas, Dove and Jake Davies gave the Jackets a 1-0 lead. Daniel Palka followed with a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 edge.
A sacrifice fly from Spenser Payne made it 2-1 in the second and the hosts drew even in the third thanks to Anthony Melchinoda’s RBI single.
Tech regained the lead in the fourth inning as freshman Daniel Spingola doubled and later scored with an RBI single from Mott Hyde.
Reliever Jake Davies was charged with both unearned runs in the ninth inning and took the loss (0-1), while BC reliever Nate Bayuk worked 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn his first win (1-1).
