BC BASEBALL: Martinelli's Slam Leads The Way In Eagles 15-6 Win Over Duke

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BC BASEBALL: Martellini’s Grand Slam Propels Eagles to Series Win over Duke
Martellini, Yish, Alu and Dempsey log career days in victory over Blue Devils

Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interviews (VIDEO)

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Boston College 15, Duke 6
Records: Boston College (12-20, 3-14 ACC) at Duke (18-19, 6-11 ACC)
Location: Jack Coombs Field in Durham, N.C.
Series: BC clinches the series, 2-0

BC HIGHLIGHTS

Sophomore Gian Martellini drove in a career-high five RBIs as he blasted his first career grand slam in the fourth to give the Eagles the lead. He also notched an RBI single and scored two runs. He has at least one hit in 10 of the last 11 games and he has reached base in all 11, the longest current on-base streak for the Eagles. He also has a hit in 25 of the 31 games he has played this season.

Freshman Brian Dempsey turned in a career day with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate and stole two bases, scoring once.

Classmate Jacob Yish also logged a career-high day with three hits and two runs, his first career double and he tied a career high with two RBIs.

Junior Jake Palomaki was 1-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs and his 100^th career walk. His hit was his first career triple. He is third in BC record books for all-time walks.

Sophomore Jake Alu also tallied a career-high hits total, going 4-for-6 on the day.

Sophomore RHP John Witkowski earned his first win of the season, throwing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit and struck out one.

KEY PLAYS

With the Eagles trailing, 5-1, in the fourth, Martellini homered with the bases loaded to give the Eagles the lead.

They used a nine-run sixth to clinch the series victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Duke jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first as sophomore left-handed starter Dan Metzdorf gave up back-to-back singles to start the game before surrendering a three-run home run to Griffin Conine. The lefty settled in and got three quick outs – including one K – to end the inning.

The Eagles got one back in the second as junior Donovan Casey doubled down the third-base line with runners on the corners.

The Blue Devils added two runs in the second to take a 5-1 lead. With runners on the corners, Metzdorf’s pickoff attempt went wide, allowing one run in and Chris Proctor, who had singled, to land on third. With one down, Zack Kone hit a sac fly to plate Proctor before Metzdorf ended the inning with a chopper back to the mound.

Thanks to Martellini’s grand slam, the Eagles took the lead in the fourth. With two down, Yish knocked a base hit up the middle and moved to third on a single by Dempsey, who was thrown out trying to advance to second. New pitcher LHP Chris McGrath entered and gave up a base hit to Casey to drive in Yish. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases and Martellini blasted a no-doubter over the left-field fence.

The Eagles took a commanding, 15-5 lead in the sixth on six hits and two errors off three Duke different pitchers. Senior Michael Strem drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Martellini plated him with a single to right. BC loaded the bases on a walk and base hit and senior Johnny Adams doubled down the left-field line to score two. Yish followed with his first career double to score two more. Dempsey laid down a bunt single to put runners on the corners and the two freshmen executed a double steal to tally the sixth BC run of the inning. Dempsey took third on the bad throw home and after Casey walked, Palomaki tripled to right center to clear the bases. Strem brought Palomaki home with a sac fly to center. A popup on the field ended the BC half of the sixth. With one out in the inning, nine straight Eagles reached safely before Strem’s fly ball.

Duke scored one run off sophomore RHP Jack Nelson in the eighth. Pinch hitter Chase Cheek led off with a double to right. After a walk, the Eagles turned a 543 double play to get two out and move Cheek to third. He scored on a wild pitch before Nelson got a fly ball to end the inning.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

The Eagles’ 20 hits and 15 runs are the most recorded in 2017. It was the most runs scored since 17-0 victory against Northern Illinois and the most hits since tallying 22 in a 22-1 victory at Northeastern on March 24, 2015.

Eight of the nine BC starters logged at least one hit, while five recorded at least one. Six of the nine starters drove in runs and all nine scored at least one run. Nine of the 10 hitters tallied a hit in the game.

The series win is the first for the Eagles in 2017.

The last BC grand slam was hit by Logan Hoggarth against Northern Illinois on Feb. 21, 2016 in a 17-0 win.

BC is now 7-1 when recording 10 hits or more and 4-1 when hitting a home run.

Duke used eight pitchers in the game.

BC has won the last five meetings against Duke and improves to 18-11 in the all-time series and 8-6 in Durham. The Eagles have won six of the 10 series between the two squads.

UP NEXT
The Eagles and Blue Devils finish the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday. It will be on the ACC Network Extra.