BC beats Miami, 11-6, and takes weekend series

The Eagles won their first conference series since February in convincing fashion behind a six-RBI day from Luke Gold.

After Boston College took a decisive 7-0 lead through two innings against Miami, it seemed like the Eagles were bound for another win like Friday’s shutout. Then, the Hurricanes punched back, putting up five runs in the second against BC right-hander Alex Stiegler.

Unlike weekends past, however, the Eagles didn’t falter. Behind designated hitter Luke Gold, BC only pulled away from there, winning 11-6 and taking its first conference series since February. Stiegler went on to finish six innings and was backed by plenty of run support as the Eagles (19-22, 8-19 Atlantic Coast) added four runs of insurance off of a usually lockdown Miami (24-15, 15-14) bullpen.

“You think Miami is going to score runs,” head coach Mike Gambino said. “We weren’t shocked when they got something going. I love how everybody responded.”

Gold went 4-for-5 with four extra base hits—two doubles, a triple, and a home run—out of the clean-up spot. He was one of five Eagles’ to log a multi-hit game as they bounced back from a one-run effort on Saturday with 11 runs on 15 hits.

Hurricanes starter Jake Garland took the loss as he was charged with seven runs—all earned—in an inning and two-thirds. A day after BC was held to just six hits, the Eagles piled up eight against Garland and seven more against Miami’s trio of bullpen arms.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Gold rakes: It was a terrific weekend for the Eagles’ third baseman and designated hitter, who’s been dealing with some back issues. He went 9-for-14 (.643) against Miami with eight RBIs, three runs scored, and four extra base hits. Gold had managed just two hits in three games against Notre Dame and struck out four times in the weekend finale, but he fanned just once against Miami and was locked in all weekend.

“Honestly, you’re seeing him get healthy,” Gambino said of the sophomore. “He’s been dealing with that back for about six weeks, but [trainer Eric Crest] has done a great job getting him back and his back’s feeling better.”

Gold drove in two in BC’s six-run second with a sharply hit double down the left field line. Then, after the Hurricanes clawed back and were within two, Gold went on to account for each of the Eagles’ next four runs. He hit a two-run home run in the fourth off of Miami reliever Jake Smith, a RBI triple (he was thrown out trying to stretch it to an inside-the-park home run) off of Andrew Walters in the sixth, and another RBI double in the eighth.

Big inning, again: On Friday, the Eagles’ had a five-run first and a four-run seventh. They one-upped that on Sunday afternoon with a six-run second inning, chasing Garland in the process. It started with three straight singles from Vince Cimini, Dante Baldelli, and Parker Landwehr. Situational hitting came in to play, as Cameron Leary had a sacrifice fly, then Sal Frelick was intentionally walked to re-load the bases.

With one out, Brian Dempsey lined a single through the left side to score another. Cody Morissette added the second sacrifice fly of the inning to push the third run across, then Gold came up clutch with his two-out, two-run double. Jack Cunningham capped the scoring—and ended Garland’s day—with a RBI single.

Stiegler grinds through six: It was far from Stiegler’s best outing, but he went six innings for the fourth time in his last five starts. The graduate student gave up a season-high six runs on 10 hits with four walks, but sandwiched the tough five-run inning with four scoreless frames.

“The kid kept going, kept pitching and kept attacking guys,” Gambino said. “He gave us three more after that [inning]. The vibe from him was awesome and he just kept going.”

Stiegler was coming off a month of April where he ranked fifth among qualified ACC starters in ERA, so the six runs allowed was surprising. Still, the Hurricanes lineup proved all week that they were able to work counts effectively and they had six hits in that third inning. One was the hardest hit ball of the afternoon, a leadoff home run from Miami catcher Carlos Perez that was a no-doubter to left.

Coon closes it out: If anything, this weekend has reaffirmed the fact that when the Eagles’ pitching staff is on, it has the potential to be one of the better groups in the conference. Six BC pitchers toed the rubber against Miami and combined to allow just six earned runs on 20 hits with 27 strikeouts. On Sunday, after Stiegler, it was left-hander Charlie Coon who spun three shutout innings. Coon gave up just one hit and struck out two.

“It was a huge weekend for our bullpen,” Gambino said. “It was a huge weekend for our staff in general. We believe in Charlie and have a lot of faith and trust in him and he showed again today why.”

The Eagles’ bullpen over the weekend—Joe Vetrano, Joey Walsh, and Coon—combined for nine scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts.

Images Courtesy of Boston College Athletics