Boston College Clips Duke 6-1

Friday, March 27

Newark, Del.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Boston College

Boston College Clips Duke 6-1

3/27/2015 5:23:00 PM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

NEWARK, Del. – A five-run fifth powered Boston College to a 6-1 decision over Duke in the series opener Friday afternoon at the University of Delaware's Bob Hannah Stadium.

Boston College (9-13, 2-7 ACC) outhit Duke (19-7, 4-6 ACC) 8-5 and the Blue Devils walked a season-high seven batters to aid the Eagle offense. Catcher Nick Sciortino delivered the decisive blow, belting a three-run double in the fifth.

Duke's lone run of the game came on a Cris Perez solo home run to start the ninth. The homer was the second for Perez this season and marked his team-leading 21^st RBI.

Freshman Peter Zyla was the only Blue Devil to total multiple hits, adding a double in the fifth and base knock in the seventh. In addition to the Perez solo shot, senior Mike Rosenfeld and junior Kenny Koplove accounted for the remainder of Duke's hits.

Right-hander Michael Matuella (1-1) suffered his first loss since the 2014 ACC Tournament. Matuella struck out six batters over 4.2 innings, but walked a career-high five. Boston College struck for six runs, only two earned, on five hits off Matuella.

Freshman Ryan Day came on in relief and tossed 3.1 scoreless innings, striking out a career-high five batters. Day allowed just two hits and walked two batters in the longest outing of his young career.

Eagles' right-hander Jeff Burke (2-3) picked up the win after tossing five shutout innings. Burke allowed three hits, struck out four and walked three. Justin Dunn finished off the final four frames to earn his second save. Dunn fanned four and allowed the Zyla seventh-inning base hit and the Perez ninth-inning home run.

The first run of the series came in the bottom of the opening frame. A double play negated a leadoff walk, but a second walk, stolen base and RBI single from Chris Shaw put the Eagles up 1-0 early.

Duke threatened in the third following a Boston College error and a Koplove single. The Eagles escaped with a double play and fly ball to right to keep the Blue Devils off the board.

The Blue Devils threatened again in a crazy fourth inning, but once again Boston College worked out of the jam. Freshman Michael Smiciklas was hit by a pitch to lead things off. Rosenfeld smoked a ball down the right field line, which was originally ruled foul before the umpires convened and awarded him a base hit. A controversial call on a Justin Bellinger walk accounted for the first out. With two away, Jack Labosky walked to load the bases, but Duke couldn't exploit the opportunity.

Boston College broke the game open with a five-run fifth, capitalizing on a pair of walks and an error. Third baseman Joe Cronin sandwiched an RBI double in between a pair of walks to make it a 2-0 ballgame. An error on a fielder's choice back to the mound allowed Boston College's third run to cross home. Sciortino then delivered the clutch hit, roping his second double of the season into the right center gap to clear the bases.

Game two of the series is set for Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m., from Bob Hannah Stadium. Duke's Andrew Istler takes the mound opposite Boston College's Mike King.

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