Boston College Athletics
Baseball Drops Annual Exhibition to Red Sox
March 03, 2007 | Baseball
March 3, 2007
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Johnny Ayers made history at 6:03 p.m. last night when he lead off the game ripping a first-pitch fastball for a double to left field, off highly touted Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsusaka. The Eagles were the first line-up that Matsusaka has faced in a Red Sox uniform but, despite Ayers' heroics, Daisuke made quick work of the remaining Eagles he faced, and the Red Sox won the annual exhibition between the two clubs, 9-1.
Senior right-hander, Ted Ratliff pitched a strong first inning for BC as he allowed no runs, two hits, and struck out 2, including right fielder Willy Mo Pena, who he got looking on a sharp curve.
The Red Sox would get on the board in the second inning though, as sophomore James MacDonald surrendered two runs, on three hits, giving Boston a 2-0 lead. However, Boston would tack on five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning,proving to be more than enough support to hold on for the win.
The Eagles would get a spark in the top of the fifth inning, when junior Brandon Ziemann crushed a fastball over the left field wall, giving the Eagles their only run of the game. It was Ziemann's first career home run at Boston College.
Many Eagles made their collegiate debut against the Red Sox last night, including Newton's Sam Shaughnessy, who just missed making a shoe string catch in the bottom of the sixth, and Worcester's James Cozza, who got an inning of work in on the mound.
The Eagles are quickly back in action, as they take on Florida Atlantic University tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Boca Raton, Fla.
