GAME INFORMATION
Score: Boston College 2, Massachusetts 1
Records: Massachusetts (7-14) at Boston College (18-11)
Location: Eddie Pellagrini Diamond at Commander Shea Field in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Beanpot Series: BC leads the Beanpot series, 6-5
BC HIGHLIGHTS
- Junior Michael Strem went 1-2, while picking up an RBI and scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning. He now has 10 RBIs in the last three games.
- Sophomore Jake Palomaki registered a hit and a season high three stolen bases. The Kennesaw, Ga. native has now reached base in 24 of the Eagles' 29 games this season.
- Freshman pitcher John Witkowski earned his first collegiate win, going one inning of relief and retiring the side against the Minutemen on Wednesday. After getting a fly out and a groundout, Witkowski got UMass' Mike Geannelis to strike out swinging to head to the bottom of the eighth with the score tied at one apiece.
- Freshman right-hander Thomas Lane went the first 4.1 innings of the game, allowing three hits and zero runs while striking out three. Lane earned a no-decision in the effort.
KEY PLAYS
- With two outs in the eighth inning, Michael Strem singled through the left side to put BC's first baserunner on since the fifth inning. After stealing second base, Strem took third a wild pitch and came around to score the winning run off a single from Joe Cronin that landed in front of the Massachusetts right fielder.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Boston College was the first team to get on the board, putting together one run in the bottom half of the third inning for the 1-0 lead. After Mitch Bingras opened up the inning with a single up the middle, shortstop Johnny Adams hammered a long single to right center field that advanced Bingras to third with no outs in the inning. After UMass recorded its first out, Bingras tagged up on a Michael Strem sacrifice fly to left field for the game's first run.
- The score would remain the same until the top of the seventh inning, when UMass put together back-to-back singles that pulled Eagles pitcher from the game after 2.0 innings. On the very first pitch from Brian Rapp, UMass' Vinny Scifo dropped down a well-executed bunt between the pitcher and third baseman. On the play, Rapp's errant throw to first base allowed a runner to score and put in scoring position with only one out. However, Rapp, a Mendham, N.J. native, recorded back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the inning.
- With the game knotted at one in the eighth inning, Witkowski was called upon for relief of Brian Rapp, who picked up two key outs in the seventh inning to get the Eagles out of a jam with runners on second and third. The freshman reliever picked up three quick outs, including a strikeout, to earn the first win of his young collegiate career.
- Looking to avoid being shut down in order, Michael Strem singled with two down in the bottom of the eighth inning through the right side. After stealing second and advancing to third on a subsequent wild pitch, he recorded what would be the game winning run when third baseman Joe Cronin hit a line drive that fell in in front of UMass's right fielder Mike Hart.
- Senior LHP Jesse Adams entered in the ninth and preserved the victory, getting two groundouts and striking out the opponent's third batter looking for his first save of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Eagles improve to 34-16-1 in the Beanpot all-time. They will play Northeastern for the 20th time for the championship, holding a 13-6 record against the Huskies.
- BC will play for its 12th Beanpot title. The Eagles have the most of any school in tournament history.
- The Eagles took the season series, 2-0, with in-state rival Massachusetts. They won the first meeting in Amherst, 11-5, on March 30.
UP NEXT
- Before the Beanpot Championship next Wednesday, April 20, the Eagles travel to South Bend, Ind., to play a three-game conference series with Notre Dame beginning on Friday, April 15 at 6:05 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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