BC BASEBALL: Eagles Alu and Stevens Lead the Way in Win

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BC BASEBALL: Stevens Strikes Out Career-High 10 in Series Opening Victory
Alu tied career high with three RBIs, going 3-for-4

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GAME INFORMATION
Score: Boston College 6, Notre Dame 2
Records: Notre Dame (26-28, 10-18 ACC) at Boston College (23-26, 9-19 ACC)
Location: Eddie Pellagrini Diamond at Commander Shea Field in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Series: BC leads the series, 1-0

BC HIGHLIGHTS

Sophomore right-hander Jacob Stevens started his 15^th game of the season, tying for second in BC’s single-season record book. He recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts in a seven-inning start, allowing just four hits, two runs and two walks. He retired nine ND batters in a row from the third to the sixth innings. The seven innings tied a career high.

Sophomore Jake Alu tied a career high with three RBIs on a 3-for-4 day, pacing the Eagles at the plate. He doubled and scored a run as well. Alu has a hit in 16 of the last 19 games, including the last six.

Junior Donovan Casey was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. He has reached in last 10 games and has a hit in the last five. He threw a 123 ninth to close out the game for the Eagles.

Senior Johnny Adams was 1-for-3 with a run, sac fly and two stolen bases. He has reached base in the last 10 games, tying a season high.

KEY PLAYS

With the game knotted at two in the seventh, the Eagles scored four runs on two hits, two errors and two walks to take a lead they would not relinquish.

The pitching combination of Stevens, sophomore RHP John Witkowski and Casey held the Irish scoreless for the final three innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the second as Alu started with a single, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by the Notre Dame catcher. Adams plated him with a sac fly to right center.

The Irish knotted the game in the top of the third. Jake Shepski knocked a one-out double to the wall in right center and moved to third on a wild pitch. Nick Podkul brought him in with a single to center. Sophomore catcher Gian Martellini got Podkul trying to steal second for the second out and Stevens ended the inning with a strikeout swinging.

After retiring nine straight, Stevens allowed a two-out single to Jake Johnson and Matt Vierling followed with a double off the wall in left center to take a 2-1 lead. Stevens got out of the inning with a grounder to short.

BC tied the game in the bottom of the inning and forced starter RHP Brad Bass from the game. Senior Michael Strem drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on a throwing error by second baseman Podkul. Alu launched a double off the wall in left center to make it a 2-2 game. He advanced to third on a grounder but was tagged out trying to give BC the lead on a wild pitch.

The Eagles broke the tie in the seventh, capitalizing on ND errors to go up, 6-2. Adams reached on a throwing error by the shortstop to start the inning and went on to steal second and third. Freshman Brian Dempsey drew a walk to put Eagles on the corners and junior Jake Palomaki plated Adams with a bunt down the first-base line. Palomaki landed on second and Dempsey on third after an overthrow to home by pitcher Peter Solomon. Casey singled to center to score Dempsey and after a walk loaded the bases, ND went back to its pen for RHP Patrick MacDonald. With two down, Alu smacked one up the middle to score two more to give the Eagles a four-run lead.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

The last BC pitcher to strike out 10 or more batters was Justin Dunn in the Eagles’ NCAA Regional win over Tulane on June 3, 2016 when he recorded 11 Ks.

Senior Michael Strem drew three walks in the game to move into ninth all-time in BC record books with 92 career walks.

The Eagles snapped a three-game skid against the Irish and improve to 4-11 at home, winning the last two contests against ND. They are 3-7 in ACC games.

BC is now 10-8 at home and has won the last four games.

The Eagles did not record an error for the 21^st time this season.

Martellini did not tally a hit in back-to-back games for the first time in 2017. He has recorded at least one knock in 39 of the 48 games played this season.

UP NEXT
The Eagles and Irish return for a 1:30 p.m. game on Friday.