Boston College Athletics
Boston College
Duke
Baseball Drops 16 Inning Duel To Duke, 6-3
March 31, 2006 | Baseball
March 31, 2006
Brockton, Mass. - A two-run home run by Jimmy Gallagher helped propel Duke to a 6-3 win over Boston College in a marathon, 16-inning game at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Mass.
Gallagher put the Blue Devils on the scoreboard in the first inning when he drove in Jonathan Anderson who reached on an error to start the game.
It would turn into a pitcher's duel shortly thereafter, with BC starter Terry Doyle throwing nine strong innings, surrendering one earned run and striking out a season-high 11 batters.
Duke's Danny Otero was equal to the task, but the Eagles would take a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when Johnny Ayers singled and was eventually driven in by Dave Preziosi. Shawn McGill followed, drilling a double into the gap and putting the Eagles ahead.
In the Duke seventh, one of BC's five errors on the day put Bret Bartles on first and the next batter, Nate Freiman, capitalized, depositing a Doyle pitch over the left field fence and giving the Blue Devils a 3-2 edge.
Otero went ten strong innings, striking out six, but surrendered the tying run in the bottom of the ninth as McGill again delivered a clutch RBI, scoring Ryan Hutchinson to tie the game.
Doyle handed the ball over to Kevin Boggan who was dazzling in relief, firing six scoreless innings of two-hit ball, while striking out seven.
The Eagles had opportunities in extra innings but a botched bunt and an inopportune double-play left the door open for the Blue Devils who grabbed three runs in the 16th inning, two of which came on the Gallagher blast.
BC was previously 4-0 in extra inning games this season. The Eagles drop to 3-7 in conference and will meet Duke again tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Campanelli Stadium
