BC BASEBALL Battles the Red Sox in Two-Run Game

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BC BASEBALL Battles the Red Sox in Two-Run Game

BC pitchers struck out Red Sox hitter four times

Box Score | Photo Gallery | Video Highlights | Postgame Interviews (VIDEO)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Boston College baseball took on the Boston Red Sox for the 27^th time in a seven-inning exhibition game at JetBlue Park Fenway South in Fort Myers, Fla., on Thursday afternoon. The Eagles fell, 4-2, to the professional team, but tallied a few hits and strikeouts off the big leaguers.

The Red Sox jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning and added two more in the fourth. The Eagles scored their two runs in the seventh, including one on an RBI by sophomore Jake Goodreau.

Sophomore RHP Matt Gill recorded two strikeouts on the day and the entire BC pitching staff tallied four K’s. Sophomore Dante Baldelli, freshman Chris Galland and redshirt junior Scott Braren registered the three BC hits on the day with Braren doubling in the fourth.

The Eagles (2-1) return to action on Friday, Feb. 23 when they play Minnesota at 2 p.m. in the first game of the Snowbird Classic.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Red Sox 4, Boston College 2
Location: JetBlue Park Fenway South in Fort Myers, Fla.
Series: The Red Sox lead the all-time series, 27-0

BC HIGHLIGHTS

Baldelli picked up the first BC hit of the day with a single in the second inning.
Braren drove a double to left center in the fourth inning.
Freshmen LHP Will Hesslink and RHP Jack Hodgson both recorded strikeouts in their one inning of work.
Gill tallied two Ks in the seventh, the only BC pitcher to record multiple strikeouts in the game.
Redshirt freshman RHP Michael Marzonie threw two innings. He forced Sam Travis to hit into a double play to face the minimum after hitting the lead-off man in the third and then he struck out Ivan De Jesus in the fourth.
Goodreau recorded the only RBI on a groundout to first, scoring freshman Reyce Curnane, who was hit by a pitch, stolen second and reached third on a wild pitch.
Galland legged out an infield single in the seventh for the third BC hit.

KEY PLAY

The Eagles made it a two-run game in the seventh with RHP Kevin McAvoy on the hill. With runners on second and one out, McAvoy struck out back-to-back BC hitters to preserve the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Red Sox opened the scoring in the first when Rusney Castillo and Sandy Leon drew back-to-back walks from junior starter RHP Jack Nelson. Travis doubled to left to drive in Castillo and Leon scored on a groundout to make it 2-0.
With Marzonie on for his second inning of work, Esteban Quiroz led off the fourth with a walk. Tzu-Wei Lin hit a ground-rule double down the right-field line to put runners on second and third. After a strikeout, Aneury Tavarez walked to load the bases. Oscar Hernandez grounded one to third. The Eagles got the out at second but Hernandez was called safe on a close play at first to allow a second run in. Marzonie ended the inning with a fly ball to right center.
Curnane was hit by a pitch to ledd off the seventh. He stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Braren drew a walk to put runners on the corners and Goodreau grounded out down the first-base line to score Curnane. Braren scored on a throwing error by Red Sox catcher Nick Sciortino – a BC product – to make the final score 4-2. McAvoy ended the game with back-to-back Ks, leaving the tying run at the plate.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

The four runs scored by the Red Sox marked the second fewest allowed under eighth-year head coach Mike Gambino in the all-time series.
It was the first time since 2014 the Eagles recorded runs against the Red Sox. They were shutout, 1-0 and 6-0, in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
This was the sixth time the Eagles lost by two runs or less.

UP NEXT
BC stays in the Sunshine State to battle three Big Ten teams – Minnesota, Indiana and Rutgers – in the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte. The Eagles first face the Gophers on Friday at 2 p.m.

-BC-