BC BASEBALL: Palomaki Drives in Four in BC Win

Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview (Video)

LOWELL, Mass. – The Boston College baseball team earned a 9-4 victory over UMass Lowell on Tuesday evening at LeLacheur Park. The Eagles (14-26) have won all three meetings between the two schools since the River Hawks (17-20) became a Division I team.

BC was powered by senior Jake Palomaki‘s four RBIs, tying a career high. Sophomore Joe Suozzi also recorded a career-high for runs batted in with two on a 2-for-4 night. In the last five games, he has racked up eight hits, six runs, and four RBIs.

The Eagles broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth, scoring five runs.  Junior left-hander Zach Stromberg came into the game in the bottom of the inning with the tying run on first and held UML. He collected his second win of the season, striking out two with two walks and one hit over 1.2 scoreless innings of relief. Junior righties Sean Hughes and John Witkowski finished the game, throwing three scoreless with two strikeouts each.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Boston College 9, UMass Lowell 4
Records: Boston College (14-26) at UMass Lowell (17-20)
Location:  LeLacheur Park at Lowell, Mass.

BC HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior Jake Palomaki tied his career high with four RBIs. He logged two hits, scored a run and stole a base. Palomaki has recorded at least one hit and scored in the last five games and has reached base in 36 of the Eagles’ 40 games this season with a hit in 28 of them.
• Sophomore Joe Suozzi was 2-for-4 with a career-high two RBIs. In his last five games, he has eight hits, six runs, and four RBIs.
• Junior left-hand reliever Zach Stromberg picked up his second win of the season, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit, walked two and struck out two.
• Senior Anthony Maselli was 1-for-2 with a stolen base as a defensive replacement at first base. He has at least one hit in three of the last four games played.
• Sophomore Brian Dempsey had a hit, a sacrifice bunt and scored. He has a hit in the last four games and has reached base in 36 of the Eagles’ 40 games this season.
• Sophomore Jack Cunningham was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. He has logged at least one hit and one RBI in six of the last seven games.
• Junior right-handers Sean Hughes (1.0 IP) and John Witkowski (2.0 IP) combined for three innings of scoreless relief to end the game. Each allowed just one hit, did not walk a batter and struck out two.

KEY PLAYS

• With the game tied at one, the Eagles scored five runs on four hits in the fifth to take a lead they would not relent.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Junior right-handed starter Jack Nelson tallied back-to-back strikeouts looking to start the game but UML’s Russ Olive hit a solo home run over the right-center fence to put the River Hawks on the board. Nelson ended the inning with a fly ball to center.
• The Eagles tied the game in their next at-bat. Junior Gian Martellini led off with a double to left center and moved to third on a groundout. Suozzi drove him in with his own double to center.
• BC scored five in the fifth to take the lead. With runners on second and third, Palomaki singled through the right side to clear the bases. After Maselli tallied a base hit, both runners stole a bag to move into scoring position. Palomaki came home on a wild pitch and Maselli scored on an RBI single by Cunningham. RHP Matt Kerin came into the game and walked Martellini before getting a fly ball for the second out. Suozzi singled to left to plate Cunningham to give BC a 6-1 lead. Martellini was caught between second and third for the final out.
• UML got three in the bottom of the inning to cut into the lead. Nelson loaded the bases on two singles and a hit batter. Vinnie Martin hit a one-out single through the right side to score two. After an RBI single made it a 6-4 game, Stromberg came into the game and got two quick outs to end the inning.
• The Eagles scored three in the sixth to take a five-run lead. Junior Jake Alu and sophomore Dante Baldelli started the inning with back-to-back walks. Dempsey laid down a bunt and reached first before the throw, which was high, allowing Alu to score. With LHP David Hoar on the mound, Palomaki chopped one over the shortstop’s head to bring in two more. Hoar got three quick outs to get the River Hawks out of the inning.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• The Eagles are 3-0 against UMass Lowell since the River Hawks moved to Division I.
• Freshman Chris Galland doubled in the third. He has reached base in 15 games, the longest current streak for any Eagle.
• The Eagles recorded a double-digit hit total for the 20^th time in 2018.
• For the 19^th time this season, BC did not record an error.
• Eight of the nine starters tallied at least one hit in the game.

NEXT UP
The Eagles host Bryant on Wednesday at 4 p.m. before heading to South Bend for a three-game series at Notre Dame beginning on Friday.