Canes Win Series Opener Against Eagles

Box Score

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Hurricanes opened their conference schedule in solid fashion on Friday night, taking their series opener against the visiting Boston College Eagles at Alex Rodriguez Park by a final score of 7-3.

It didn’t take long for the home team to strike, as senior catcher Peter O’Brien knocked in Tyler Palmer with an RBI double to left field in the game’s very first inning. The Canes wouldn’t score again until the seventh, however, as Boston College used a strong outing from Eric Stevens to gain control of the game.

The Eagles struck for three runs off Eric Erickson (3-1) in a fifth inning marred by a balk from the lefty starter. With the score tied at one run apiece and runners on first and second, Erickson committed his first balk of the season. The miscue would cost the southpaw, as second baseman Blake Butera knocked both runners in with an RBI single to right field, giving the Eagles a 3-1 advantage.

Erickson would settle down, however, pitching a season-high 7.2 innings and allowing just three earned runs. The Sarasota native struck out five Eagles and walked his first and only batter of the year thus far, bringing his strikeout-to-walk ratio to an incredible 24 to 1 through four starts.

The Hurricanes threatened in the bottom of the sixth, but were held off by reliever Nate Bayuk. With the bases loaded and only one out, pinch-hitter Michael Broad struck out swinging. Palmer, who helped account for the team’s nine runners left on base, flew out weakly to right field to end the Miami threat.

The Canes would capitalize in the seventh, however, scoring five runs to regain the lead. After an O’Brien walk, Rony Rodriguez recorded his first hit since Feb. 29 against FAU, cracking an RBI double into left field to cut the lead to 3-2. Brad Fieger, who had a key sacrifice fly to tie the game in the ninth inning against Miami (OH) University, recorded another big hit, this time an RBI single, to even the game up at 3-3.

With third baseman Esteban Tresgallo joining Perez on base via fielding error, Stephen Perez hit a homerun in the same inning off reliever Kyle Prohovich to give the Canes a commanding 6-3 lead. The three-run shot to right field was the second homerun of the season for Perez.

Eric Nedeljovic recorded his first save of the season in the win, throwing the game’s final 1.1 innings in dominating fashion. The junior transfer allowed no baserunners in his stint and struck out one batter. The Hurricanes return to action tomorrow night for game two of the series. First pitch against the Eagles is set for 7:05 p.m. from Alex Rodriguez Park.

GAME NOTES

Climbing to the Top
With his single in the sixth inning, Esteban Tresgallo extended his hitting streak to a conference-high 12 games. The Puerto Rico native, who has recorded a hit in every game in which he’s competed, is in a three-way tie for the longest active hitting streak in the ACC.

In the Clutch
Brad Fieger recorded his second straight game-tying hit on Friday against Boston College. Fieger, who hit a single to score Rodriguez in the bottom of the seventh, hit a game-tying sacrifice fly against Miami (Ohio) University on Wednesday.

I’ll Take Two
Despite recording only one at-bat in the previous four games combined, senior Rony Rodriguez has a team-high seven doubles. His double in the seventh inning scored the Canes’ second run of the game, and was the first of two RBI on the night.