John West, Joe Vetrano Propel Eagles to Split in Friday DH

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BRIGHTON, Mass. – The No. 11 Boston College Eagles split Friday’s doubleheader against Clemson, falling 9-7 in game one before making it a 1-1 series with a 3-1 victory in the late game.

The Eagles and Tigers went back and forth throughout game one, with Joe Vetrano opening BC’s scoring in the bottom of the first with a timely opposite-field two-run home run, giving the Eagles the early advantage with one swing of the bat.

Clemson answered with a three-run homer in the fourth inning. The Eagles rallied to tie it once again in the fifth, courtesy of a Patrick Roche RBI single. A bases-loaded wild pitch gave BC a 5-4 lead, before a four-run seventh inning from the Tigers gave them a lead they would go on to hold.

Peter Burns and Travis Honeyman added RBIs in the eighth inning to cut the deficit, but the Tigers held on to take game one, 9-7.

John West got the start in game two and delivered a gem, going six innings with two hits, no walks, and a strikeout, all while throwing 70% strikes and securing the win (2-3). Joe Vetrano provided all the offense the Eagles would need, launching a three-run shot 470 feet over the right-center fence to put BC up 3-0.

Joey Ryan relieved West after six innings and picked up right where he left off, tossing three shutout frames of relief with four strikeouts to earn the save (3) and force the rubber match.

The Eagles faced just 29 batters in the late game, just two more than the minimum, in a clinical showing from West and Ryan.

Chris Flynn (6-1) will start game three on Saturday at noon.

DETAILS
Game One Score: Clemson 9, No. 11 Boston College 7
Game Two Score: No. 11 Boston College 3, Clemson 1
Records: Boston College 29-13, Clemson 27-17
Stadium: Harrington Athletics Village
Attendance: 1063

BC HIGHLIGHTS

Joe Vetrano homered in both games of the doubleheader, the first Eagle to do so since 2019 (Jack Cunningham)
Vetrano’s home run traveled 470 feet with an exit velocity of 116 MPH.
Joey Ryan earned his third save with three shutout innings of relief in game two, striking out four
John West tossed 70% of his pitches for strikes, allowing just two hits through six frames for his second win

UP NEXT
Boston College and Clemson will face off in the rubber match Saturday afternoon at 12:00.