BC Baseball Loses Late to Oklahoma 5-4

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BC BASEBALL: Metzdorf Shines but Eagles Lose Late-Inning Lead to Oklahoma
The sophomore lefty tallies career-high strikeout total

Box Score | Postgame Interview (VIDEO) | 19 Ways Invitational Stats

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Oklahoma 5, Boston College 4
Records: Boston College (2-4) at Oklahoma (8-1)
Location: L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman, Okla.BC HIGHLIGHTS

Sophomore left-hander Dan Metzdorf allowed just one run in a career-high, seven-inning start. He struck out a career-high six while allowing five hits and retired the final 11 batters he faced.

Juniors Donovan Casey and Jake Palomaki and sophomore Gian Martellini led the way for the Eagles with 2-for-4 days.

Casey and Martellini both tallied six hits in the three games of the 19 Ways Invitational. Martellini and junior Mitch Bigras drove in runs each to lead the Eagles.

Palomaki has reached base in the last eight games, dating back to last season. He recorded two stolen bases in the game to bring his career total to 37, which is tied 10^th in BC record books.

KEY PLAYS

The Eagles held a three-run lead in the eighth but allowed the Sooners to tie the game on a walk, three hits and an RBI groundout.

Oklahoma scored the game-winning run before recording an out in the ninth.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Eagles were the first to get on the board, scoring a run playing small ball in the second. Martellini led off with an infield single and freshman Brian Dempsey followed with a base hit to right. Senior Johnny Adams moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Bigras plated Martellini with a ground out to second.

The Sooners tied the game in the bottom of the inning. With two down, Renae Martinez doubled to right center – the only extra-base hit of the game – and moved to third on a wild pitch. After a walk, Brandon Zaragoza drove in Martinez with a single to right. Metzdorf got out of the inning with a strikeout swinging.

BC retook the lead in the fourth with patience at the plate. Adams singled up the middle and freshman Dante Baldelli drew a four-pitch, two-out walk. Palomaki put down a perfect bunt down the third-base line to load the bases and senior Michael Strem walked on four pitched to bring Adams in.

The Eagles added one to their lead in the fifth and chased starter Dylan Grove from the game. Junior Scott Braren led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Martellini drove him in with a base hit through the left side. LHP Austin Kerns came into the game and got a double play ball and grounder to end the inning.

Another BC run crossed the plate in the sixth to make it a 4-1 Eagles’ lead. With two down, Palomaki was hit by a pitch. Strem hit a fly ball to right center, which right fielder Domenic DeRenzo dropped, allowing Palomaki to score. Casey hit an infield single up the middle, but Strem was caught between third and home for the third out.

The Sooners tied the game in the eighth with Metzdorf out of the game. Sophomore LHP Zach Stromberg allowed a lead-off walk to Zaragoza and with one down, gave up back-to-back hits to Kyle Mendenhall and Steele Walker, scoring Zaragoza. Junior RHP Bobby Skogsbergh came into the game and allowed a single to load the bases. Jack Flansburg hit a grounder to first and Bigras got the out at second. Skogsberg covered the first-base bag as the Eagles went for the double play, but the throw was a second too late, allowing another run in. With runners on the corners, Oklahoma tied the game on a passed ball before Skogsbergh got a grounder to end the inning.

The Sooner scored in the bottom of the ninth to take the ballgame. Martinez hit a chopper to short and reached as Adams could not come up with it. Skogsbergh walked the next batter and Zaragoza laid down a bunt for a hit to load the base. Ben Hollas hit the first pitch he saw past diving second baseman Palomaki to score the winning run.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

The Sooners win the first-ever meeting between the two squads.

Strem recorded his second outfield assist of the weekend in the third inning.

Adams’ error in the ninth was the first of the season for the shortstop.

Casey, Strem and Palomaki are all riding five-game hit streaks.

UP NEXT
Boston College heads to Port Charlotte, Fla., to take on five different opponents in the Snowbird Classic. The Eagles first game is on Friday, March 3 at 2:30 p.m. against Central Michigan.