11 Stolen Bases Aid the Eagles to 7-6 Crosstown Victory

Wednesday, May 4

Boston, Mass.

2:30 PM

Boston College

25-17

Northeastern

23-20

Boston College

Northeastern

Photo by: John Quackenbos

11 Stolen Bases Aid the Eagles to 7-6 Crosstown Victory

May 04, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

Scott Braren logs career-high three RBIs

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Boston College 7, Northeastern 6
Records: Boston College (25-17) at Northeastern (23-20)
Location: Friedman Diamond in Brookline, Mass.

BC HIGHLIGHTS

Sophomore Scott Braren drove in a career-high three runs on a 2-for-4 day with one walk as the designated hitter.
Senior left-hander Jesse Adams picked up his third save of the year and the sixth of his career, tying for eighth in BC record books.
Freshman righty Jack Nelson earned his second win of the year to improve to 2-0, throwing two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one, one walk and striking out two.
The Eagles recorded 11 stolen bases, the most since joining the ACC in 2006, led by senior Joe Cronin and sophomore Jake Palomaki, who each swiped three bags. It was the second time this season Palomaki recorded three steals, also doing so on April 13 against Massachusetts and a first for Cronin. Cronin tallied four steals in his first three years at BC and has nine in 2016.
Palomaki tied a career high with three runs scored. He drew two walks and was hit by a pitch and has now reached base in 35 of the Eagles' 42 games.
Cronin also drew two walks on the day to increase his career total to 104, which is second in BC record books and one behind all-time leader Blake Butera (2012-15) with 105. Cronin's 678 career at bats ranks fifth on BC's all-time list.
Junior Johnny Adams was 1-for-4 with an RBI base hit, walk and stolen base. He now has 21 hits in the last 16 games and is currently riding a seven-game hit streak and has reached base in the last 12 games.

KEY PLAYS

Trailing 4-3 heading in the fourth, Hoggarth tied the game with heads-up base running and Braren put BC on top with a two-out RBI base hit up the middle.
The Eagles added two more in the sixth, which they would need, as the Huskies tallied a run in the eighth and in the ninth.
With the rain pouring down, Jesse Adams preserved the win with a strikeout looking in a bases-loaded situation.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Eagles struck first with a run during their first at bat, but the Huskies answered in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Cronin drew a two-out walk and moved into scoring position by stealing second. Braren drove him in with a single through the right side.
Freshman right-handed starter Thomas Lane got two quick outs before giving up a solo home run to Cam Walsh to tie the game at one. Lane then walked Nolan Lang and Max Burt went deep to make it a 3-1 Northeastern lead.
BC tied the game in the third with patience at the plate and timely hitting. Palomaki, Cronin and Braren all drew walks to load the bases with one out and freshman Gian Martellini plated Palomaki with a deep fly ball to right center. Cronin was able to tag up and move to third to put runners on the corners and Johnny Adams knocked one to center to bring in Cronin. Sophomore Mitch Bigras followed with a base hit but Braren was thrown out trying to score from second.
NU went back on top in the bottom of the inning. After Lane tallied a strikeout looking, he hit Walsh to put one on. Walsh stole second and took third on a wild pitch. With two outs, the righty walked Burt, who was then caught off the bag, but Walsh was able to score before Bigras tagged Burt out.
The Eagles scored two in the fourth off RHP Mike Piscopo to take a 5-4 lead. Senior Logan Hoggarth led off with a single and classmate Gabriel Hernandez moved him to second with a sac bunt. He advanced to third on a balk before Palomaki and Strem drew walks to load the bases. Braren laced a two-out single up the middle to score two before Strem was tagged out on the base path between second and third.
BC added two more in the sixth off reliever RHP Brian Christian to go up by three. Hoggarth led off with a walk stole second and third and scored when the catcher overthrew third. With one down, Palomaki was hit by a pitch and stole second to move into scoring position. Cronin brought him in with a double to the deepest part of the park in center.
The Huskies got one in the eighth with sophomore RHP Donovan Casey on the hill. He loaded the bases on a walk, hit by pitch and single but got the next batter swinging for the first out. Pinch hitter Keith Kelly chopped one over the mound to score a run as shortstop Adams got him at first and Casey ended the inning with another K, getting himself out of the jam.
Jesse Adams came on in the ninth to close it out for the Eagles, leading by two. He issued a lead-off walk before the Eagles turned a 643 double play to clear the bases. Two errors and a single later, the bases were loaded and a wild pitch scored a run to make it a 7-6 game. Adams got a strikeout looking to get out of the jam and help the Eagles to the win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

The Eagles won both matchups against the Huskies in 2016 and have taken the last four contests in the crosstown series.
BC is on a four-game win streak and seven of the last 10 played.
The last time BC stole more than seven bases was an 11-9 win over Wake Forest on April 16, 2010. BC was one stolen base away from the ACC record of 12, set by NC State in 1990.
Casey made his first appearance since breaking his hand on April 10 sliding into second base against Virginia. He threw the eighth, allowing one hit, one run, one walk and struck out two.
The Eagles drew 11 walks on the day, tying a season-high. They also notched 11 in the 17-0 victory against Northern Illinois on Feb. 21.
The Eagles are 22-6 when they score first.

UP NEXT
The Eagles welcome Wake Forest to Chestnut Hill for a three-game ACC series beginning on Friday, May 6 at 2:30 p.m. On Saturday, BC will honor director of baseball operations, former captain and ALS advocate Pete Frates by retiring his No. 3 jersey at 1:10 p.m., before the start of the game.