Alu Helps Propel Eagles to Victory with Career Day

Sunday, March 5

Port Charlotte, Fla.

2:30 PM

Boston College

4-5

Villanova

1-9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Villanova	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	1
Boston College	0	2	0	1	4	0	0	0	X	7	10	3

Alu Helps Propel Eagles to Victory with Career Day

March 05, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF) Postgame Interview (Video)

The sophomore tallied three hits and three RBIs in first career start

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Boston College 7, Villanova 1
Records: Villanova (1-9) vs. Boston College (4-5)
Location: North Charlotte Regional Park in North Charlotte, Fla.

BC HIGHLIGHTS

Sophomore Jake Alu had a career day in his first career start, hitting in the nine spot as the designated hitter. He recorded a career-high three hits on a 3-for-4 day with a career-high three RBIs and three stolen bases.
Sophomore left-hander Dan Metzdorf allowed just one run in his six-inning start, giving up five hits, three walks with five strikeouts.
Senior Johnny Adams extended his on-base streak to 10 games – the longest of any Eagle – on a 1-for-4 day. He also has a hit in the last five games.
Junior Mitch Bigras was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI.
Junior RHP Bobby Skogsbergh and senior RHP Luke Fernandes threw the final three innings of relief for the Eagles and allowed just one hit and one walk with one strikeout.
Junior Jake Palomaki tallied his 96^th career walk, good to tie for fifth in BC record books. He also stolen his 38^th career base, tied for seventh all-time.

KEY PLAYS

Villanova scored a run in the second to take an early lead, but BC rallied to score two in the bottom of the inning and did not look back, adding a run in the fourth and four in the fifth.
Metzdorf, Skogsbergh and Fernandes held the Wildcats at bay, not allowing a run for the final seven innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Wildcats were the first to get on the board, scoring a run in the second. With one down, Breandon Campos drew a walk and was driven in as Juan De La Espriella doubled down the line in left. After a walk, sophomore catcher Gian Martellini picked off the runner at first for the second out and Metzdorf ended the inning with a strikeout looking.
It didn't take long for the Eagles to gain the lead, scoring two in the bottom of the inning with two outs. Junior Anthony Maselli drew a one-out walk and stole second to move into scoring position. Freshman Dante Baldelli laced one through the left side to plate Maselli and tie the game. Baldelli then stole second and Alu smacked one back up the middle to give BC the lead as Baldelli crossed the plate. The Eagles had runners on the corners after Alu stole second and advanced to third when the first baseman did not catch pitcher Tyler Arella's pick-off attempt and Palomaki was hit by a pitch. Senior Johnny Adams hit one to right field, but Nova's Donovan May made the diving catch to get out of the inning.
The Eagles added one in the fourth to make it a 3-1 game. Bigras led off with a double to center and with one down, Alu plated him with a base hit up the middle.
BC scored four in the fifth on four hits to give the Eagles a six-run lead. Senior Michael Strem started the inning with a walk and stole second to move into scoring position. With one down, Martellini singled to put runners on the corners. Maselli drove in Strem with a base hit to right and Bigras followed with a single through the right side to plate Martellini. With Maselli at third and Bigras at first, the Eagles executed a perfect double steal to make it a 6-1 game. With two outs, Alu recorded his third RBI of the day with a single through the right side.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Baldelli notched his first career RBI in the second inning.
Junior Donovan Casey extended his hit streak to seven games on a 1-for-4 day.
Freshman Jack Cunningham recorded his first career plate appearance as a pinch hitter in the eighth.
The Eagles stole 10 bases on the day, the most since BC stole 11 at Northeastern in a 7-6 victory on May 4, 2016. Alu is the first Eagle to steal three in a game since Strem did so in the 9-3 win over Niagara on May 15, 2016.
BC has won the last 12 meetings against Villanova and improved the all-time series record to 29-22.
The Eagles move to 13-5 in the Snowbird Classic in the team's fourth year playing in the Florida tournament.

UP NEXT
The Eagles have Monday off before ending their time at the Snowbird Classic with a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 7 against Ball State (10:30 a.m.) and Toledo (2 p.m.)