Eagles Outlast Demon Deacons to Win Doubleheader Daycap

Eagles Outlast Demon Deacons to Win Doubleheader Daycap

By Quinn Kelly

On the 5th annual ALS Awareness Day at Commander Shea Field, the Boston College Eagles nabbed a crucial extra-inning walk-off win, 9-8, over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Despite carrying a 7-1 lead into the top of the eighth inning, the win was not without lots of drama. Once BC starter Justin Dunn (7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 3 BB) departed, Wake Forest scored six times in the 8th to tie the score, using a grand slam from 2B Nate Mondou off BC reliever Bobby Skogsbergh to knot things up at 7. Five of the six runs were charged to John Nicklas before Mondou launched Skogsbergh’s first pitch out towards Beacon Street.

Eagles center fielder Michael Strem drilled a go-ahead RBI triple to knock in Jake Palomaki in the bottom of the frame to put the Eagles back on top, 8-7. Skogsbergh missed another chance to close things out in the 9th, blowing the save when Kevin Conway’s single scored Drew Freedman, who had pinch run for Wake Forest star Will Craig. Skogsbergh was able to escape without further damage, setting the stage for a thrilling bottom of the 9th.

With shortstop Johnny AdamsĀ on second base, Logan Hoggarth singled into right field. Wake Forest’s Joey Rodriguez gunned down Adams at the plate, preventing a walk-off win…temporarily. Senior lefthander Jesse Adams pitched out of a mini-jam in the top of the 10th inning. He would prove to be the winning pitcher after some 10th inning fireworks.

Gabriel Hernandez led off the bottom of the 10th with a double against Donnie Sellers. He advanced to third on a pitch that snuck by catcher Ben Breazeale. Palomaki followed with a walk, then stole second on defensive indifference. A Strem strikeout gave Wake Forest their first out, but that was as far as the inning would get. Eagles catcher and co-captain Nick Sciortino hit a ground ball to Johnny Aiello at shortstop. Aiello overthrew Breazeale as Hernandez raced home with the winning run.

Boston College improved to 10-14 in ACC play with the win. Each game is obviously paramount at this juncture of the season. Wake Forest dropped to 11-12. Both teams, along with several other foes, are battling for bids to the ACC Tournament. The Eagles will play three more home games, two versus Niagra and one against Maine, before finishing the regular season with three conference games at Georgia Tech.

Keep an eye out for my Birdball Recall column later this week for more details on Boston College Baseball.