BC Preview: Eagles Look for First Wins in Oklahoma

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Weekend Preview: Eagles Look for First Wins in Oklahoma

The Eagles take on three opponents in 19 Ways Invitational

THE FACTS
WHERE: L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman, Okla.
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. ET | Saturday, Feb. 25 at 4:30 p.m. ET | Sunday, Feb. 26 Noon ET
OPPONENTS: Northern Illinois (1-3) | Villanova (0-3) |Oklahoma (4-1)
RECORDS vs. OPPONENTS: 4-0 vs. Northern Illinois | 27-22 vs. Villanova | This will be the first-ever meeting vs. Oklahoma

HOW TO FOLLOW
Twitter:  @BCBirdball
Live Stats: Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Sunday vs. Oklahoma: Radio | TV (FSOK/FCSA)

THE MATCHUP
Pitching Matchups
FridayRHP Jacob Stevens (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP William Anderson (0-1, 9.00 ERA)
Saturday RHP Matt Gill (0-1, 13.50 ERA) vs. RHP Ryan Doty (0-1, 19.29 ERA)
Sunday: LHP Dan Metzdorf (0-1, 6.23 ERA) vs. RHP Dylan Grove (0-0, 1.69 ERA)

Scouting the teams

  • Northern Illinois is 1-3 to start the season, falling twice to South Dakota State and Chicago State opening weekend before defeating the Cougars on Wednesday.
  • Three players are batting over .400: Michael Roberson (.500 in two games), Brad Wood (.462 in four games) and Jesus Tovar (.400 in four games). Roberson leads the way with three RBIs while Wood and Tovar both have six hits. The Eagles will face righty William Anderson, a freshman who made the start on opening day and allowed six hits, three runs, four walks and struck out three over three innings against SDSU.
  • BC took four from the Huskies to start the 2016 season in Glendale, Ariz., at Camelback Ranch. It was the first time the two teams had met in school history.
  • Villanova started the season 0-3, falling in a series at Norfolk State. The Wildcats are led by Tyler Bruno (.375) and Brandon Campos (.333) at the plate, while Donovan May leads the team with three RBIs. RHP Ryan Doty took the loss in the second game last weekend, throwing the first 2.1 innings and allowing eight hits, seven runs – five earned – one walk and two strikeouts while shouldering the loss.
  • BC and Villanova go back to the days of the BIG EAST. Overall, the Eagles were 21-19 in conference action against the Wildcats and lost in the 1994 tournament. Since, BC and Nova have met four times on neutral territory, with the Eagles winning four times. They have played each other at the Snowbird Invitational in Port Charlotte, Fla., the last three years and will face each other again in Florida on March 5.
  • The Eagles will play the Sooners for the first time in program history on Sunday. Oklahoma is led by Jack Flansburg, who has a .571 batting average in the first games with eight hits, four RBIs and a 1.000 slugging percentage.
  • BC will see righty Dylan Grove in Sunday’s finale. He earned a no-decision in the Sooners’ loss to Long Beach State last weekend, allowing just three hits, two runs – one earned – and three walks while striking out seven in a 5.1-inning start.

MAKING THE CONNECTIONS

  • Oklahoma coach Pete Hughes was at the helm of Boston College from 1999 through 2006. He was 250-181-2 and recorded the second-most wins in head coaching history after Eddie Pellagrini (570), who coached for 30 seasons.
  • BC head coach Mike Gambino played for Hughes at The Heights in 1999 and 2000. He joined Hughes’ staff as an assistant from 2003 to 2005. When Hughes took the Virginia Tech head coaching job, Gambino joined him in Blacksburg, serving as an assistant coach from 2007-10.
  • Northern Illinois head coach Mike Kunigonis served on the Hokies staff with Gambino as volunteer coach from 2008 to 2010.

WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THE EAGLES

  • After dropping three one-run games at Bethune-Cookman, Boston College is looking to bounce back in Norman, Okla. The Eagles left 28 men on base, including 22 in scoring position in the three games against the Wildcats.
  • Sophomore RHP Jacob Stevens picked up where he left off his first season, putting together a scoreless, six-inning start in the season opener and striking out nine, which tied a career high. He allowed just four hits and one walk. The nine Ks was tied for second most in the ACC over the weekend.
  • With four walks on the weekend, junior Jake Palomaki moved to eighth all-time on BC’s career list with 92. He reached base in all three games on the weekend and in the last five played, dating back to last season.
  • Senior Michael Strem led the Eagles with four hits on the weekend, including two doubles. He is tied for fourth in BC record books with 49.
  • Freshman RHP Matt Gill will make his first career start on Saturday. He threw two innings at BCU and allowed two hits, three runs – all earned – three walks and struck out two.
  • Sophomore LHP Dan Metzdorf is making his second start of the season on Sunday against the Sooners. He threw a career-high 4.1 innings at Bethune-Cookman and allowed seven hits, three runs, three walks and struck out two.
  • Members of the BC bullpen were outstanding in their first outings. Sophomore LHP Zach Stromberg threw 4.1 scoreless innings of relief in two appearances, allowing just two hits and striking out three. He retired all six batters he faced in the season opener. Freshman RHP Jack Cunningham made his Maroon and Gold debut and threw 2.2 innings without allowing a run, giving up one hit and recording his first career K. Sophomore RHP Jack Nelson, Stromberg and RHP Donovan Casey combined to throw 3.2 innings
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