Pitt Falls to Boston College 6-4

Thursday, March 24

Pittsburgh, Pa.

3:00 PM

Pitt

9-9, 2-5-0

Boston College

13-6, 3-4-0

Boston College

Pitt

Pitt Falls to Boston College 6-4

3/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 24, 2016

Box Score

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team dropped game one of three to Boston College Thursday afternoon, falling to the Eagles 6-4.

"There was a little bit of frustration there today," said head coach Joe Jordano. "Our starter, Josh Falk, battled. He had some command issues that resulted in four base on balls and a couple of those guys touched the plate, including the first one of the game, with the two-run home run. Those things happen, that's apart of the game. I give credit to Boston College because, when they had opportunities, they cashed in. We had plenty of opportunities and I believe we left eight or nine runners on base. Their guys on the mound did the job. We played clean but it was just one of those games where we couldn't get everythign clicking at the same time." 

Boston College jumped on the Panthers early as two-hitter Joe Cronin sent a two-run home run over the left field wall in the top of the first inning.

Pitt responded in the home half of the first to reduce the BC lead to 2-1. Charles Leblanc drove a double to right-center and advanced to third on an error by pitcher Mike King. Leblanc would then come home to score on a Nick Yarnall sacrifice fly.

The Panthers would even the score in the second inning. Frank Maldonado walked and moved to third base on a Matt Johnson single. Maldonado then came home to tie the game 2-2 when Jacob Wright smacked a single to right field.

In the fourth, Boston College regained its lead when Matt Bigras hit a solo shot to center field.

The Eagles put together a three-run inning in the sixth to extend their lead to 6-2. A four batter sequence that resulted in two walks, a single, and a double plated the first two runs of the frame for Boston College. BC added its final run of the sixth when a Tyler Garbee balk sent Cronin from third to home.

Again, Pitt responded to the Eagles with a run of its own. Senior Alex Kowalczyk started off the bottom of the sixth with a double to the gap in left-center. David Yanni drove Kowalczyk home one pitch later with a base knock to left.

The Panthers added another in the seventh after a pair of walks and a Kowalczyk sacrifice fly plated Wright. Wright’s run provided the final score of the game, as Boston College’s 6-4 advantage would hold.

For Pitt, starting pitcher Josh Falk (2-2) recorded the loss, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing four runs on seven hits. Relief pitchers Tyler Garbee and Jextin Pugh combined for 3.1 innings of shutout work, allowing just one hit each.

Offensively, the Panthers were led by Leblanc who went 2-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Wright, Kowalczyk, and Yanni each contributed an RBI in the contest.

Pitt and Boston College will face off for game two of the series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.

"We take everything on a game-by-game basis," the skipper added. "Our formula is simple you've got to pitch well, we've got to play defense and we have to take advantage of our offensive opportunities. Today, we had eight walks as a staff and that puts our pitchers into the set. It puts more pressure on the defense and there's a lot more opportunities for the opponent to score. It is what it is. We learn from it and then we take it to the next step. Tomorrow is a new day. We've got to come out, keep working hard and learn from what we did today and try not to repeat it tomorrow. Repeat the good things."

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Notes: David Yanni now has a ten game reached-base safely streak … Pitt fell to 1-3 in both home games and home ACC games this season … Pitt dropped to 8-6 in day games and 1-2 while wearing white … the Panthers are now 78-45 all time in games played at Charles L. Cost Field … Pitt is now 4-7 against right handed starting pitchers … the Panthers are now 1-7 when trailing after six and 0-8 when trailing after eight … Pitt falls to 3-8 when allowing six or more runs and 0-6 when being outhit by its opponent … Pitt is now 3-8 in March and 0-1 in Thursday games.