Seventh-Inning Rally Launches Eagles into Regional Championship

Saturday, June 4

Oxford, Miss.

6:00 PM EST

Boston College

33-20

Utah

26-28

Utah

Boston College

Photo by: Joshua McCoy

Seventh-Inning Rally Launches Eagles into Regional Championship

June 05, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

Cronin and King set program records in contest

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Boston College 4, Utah 3
Records: Boston College (33-20) vs. Utah (26-28)
Location: Swayze Field at Oxford-University Stadium in Oxford, Miss.

BC HIGHLIGHTS

Junior Mike King went 6.2 innings in his 15^th start of the season, allowed seven hits, three runs, two walks and struck out two. His starts tied the season record at BC and he set a new single-season record for the Eagles with 98.0 innings pitched in a season.
Senior Joe Cronin broke Boston College's all-time walks record by logging the 113 of his career. He also scored a run for the Eagles in the fifth.
Sophomore Jake Palomaki walked in the fifth inning. He has reached base in 46 of the Eagles' 53 games, including the last 13. The walk was the 41^st of the season, good for second on BC's single-season list. He holds the record with 46, set last year. His 87 career walks is 10^th in BC record books.
Junior Nick Sciortino threw out two base runners stealing to bring his season total to 19, which leads the ACC.
Junior Johnny Adams led the way for the Eagles with a 2-for-4 day, scoring a run and hitting his team-leading 14^th double.
Senior Jesse Adams recorded a four-out save for the sixth of the season, which is tied for sixth in BC record books and his nine career saves is sixth.

KEY PLAYS

Down 3-1 in the seventh, the Eagles scored three runs off two hits, two hit batters, a walk and a fielder's choice to take the lead.
King, freshman John Witkowski and Adams shut out the Utes from the fifth inning on to help the Eagles to the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Utah struck first, scoring two runs in the first. With one down, Cody Scaggari knocked a base hit to left. Sophomore right fielder Donovan Casey made diving catch on a fast-sinking liner for the second out but could not double up the runner to end the inning and the Utes capitalized. Kellen Marruffo doubled to the corner in left to plate Scaggari and Hunter Simmons followed with a single to center to a make it 2-0.
The Utes added a run in the fourth as King put two on with a walk and hit by pitch. With two down, Scaggari singled to drive one in.
The Eagles got on the board in the fifth. Cronin drew a four-pitch lead-off walk and sophomore Scott Braren followed with a base hit to right to put runners on the corners. Adams grounded into a double play, but the grounder allowed Cronin to score BC's first run. The Eagles loaded the bases on an error, bloop single by sophomore Mitch Bigras and walk by Palomaki but a chopper to short ended the scoring threat.
BC scored three in the seventh to take a 4-3 lead and chase starter RHP Dalton Carroll from the game. Adams led off with a double down the left-field line and moved to third on a passed ball. The Utes went to the bullpen for LHP Hunter Rodriguez. He hit Hoggarth to put runners on the corners and senior pinch hitter Gabriel Hernandez got down a bunt down for a base hit. Rodriguez overthrew first, allowing Adams to score. Palomaki was hit by a pitch to load the bases before a grounder to third forced the first out of the inning at the plate. Sciortino drew a walk on a full count to bring in the tying run. Casey then knocked a hard-hit grounder to short, which Scaggari bobbled. The Utes got the out at second but Casey beat the throw to first, allowing Palomaki to score the go-ahead run.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

The Eagles improved to 21-21 in the tournament. They are now 2-1 in the 2016 postseason.
For just the second time in 2016, the Eagles came back trailing after the sixth inning. They are now 2-17 on the year.
BC also improved to 6-12 when the opponent scores first and 13-3 on neutral territory this season.
The Eagles took the first-ever meeting against the Utes.
The win marked the eighth time in 2016 the Eagles were outhit and earned a victory. They have lost 14 times when getting outhit.

UP NEXT

The Eagles will play the winner of the Utah/Tulane game on Sunday, June 5 at 6 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
If BC wins, the Eagles advance to the Super Regionals, where they will play the winner of the Miami Regional. If they do not win, they will play again on Monday, June 6 at 8 p.m. EST with the winner advancing.