Eagles Take Game-One 6-4 Over #24 Clemson Friday

March 14, 2008

Clemson, SC –

A three-run seventh inning and solid pitching by Terry Doyle and Kurt Hayer led Boston College to a 6-4 victory over #24 Clemson on Friday in front of 3,846 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Eagles, who took a 1-0 series lead, improved to 7-7 overall and 1-3 in the ACC. The Tigers fell to 9-5 overall and 1-3 in league play.

Doyle (2-1) picked up the win, as he pitched the first 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on 10 hits while striking out six and walking one. Hayer, who pitched the final three innings, earned his first save of the season.

Starter Ryan Hinson (1-3) suffered the loss for the Tigers, as he allowed five runs (two earned) on seven hits. He also struck out seven and walked just one batter.

The Tigers got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the third. Mike Freeman drew a walk to lead off the frame and scored on a double to left field by Alex Lee. Wilson Boyd followed with a single to shortstop to put runners on the corners. After Boyd stole second base, Doug Hogan plated Lee with a sacrifice fly to right-center.

The Eagles responded with a run in the top of the fourth. Matt Hamlet drew a leadoff walk and Tony Sanchez followed with a single to center. With two outs, Michael Belfiore plated Hamlet with another single to center.

Boston College evened the score 2-2 in the top of the fifth. Ryan Akel led off with a double to left, moved to third on a groundout by Barry Butera, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hamlet.

Clemson took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning. Stan Widmann led off with a single to center, stole second, and scored on a single to right by Boyd.

The Eagles answered with three runs in the seventh. With one out, Akel reached first on a throwing error by Widmann. Hamlet then hit a two-out pop-up that fell in left-center for a double to score Akel. Sanchez then hit a two-run homer to right to put the Eagles up 5-3. It was his second long ball of the season.

With one out in the bottom of the inning, Boyd reached on a dropped flyball by Butera, which allowed Boyd to advance to second base. Hogan followed with a single to left-center to score Boyd.

Boston College added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Akel drew a leadoff walk and Robert Anston came in to pinch-run. Butera was hit by a pitch, then Hamlet put both runners in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Sanchez drove in Anston with a sacrifice fly to center.

Boston College, who had eight hits, was paced at the plate by Sanchez, who had two hits, including a homer, and three RBIs. Boyd, who extended his hitting streak to 12 games, had a game-high three hits and one RBI. Hogan went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead Clemson’s 12-hit attack. The Tigers had 15 batters reach base and stole four bases, but timely pitching by the Eagles and three double plays thwarted the Tigers.

Clemson and Boston College will play game-two of the three-game series Saturday at a rescheduled time of 11:00 AM at Doug Kingsmore Stadium due to the threat of inclement weather later in the afternoon.