@CanesBaseball Drops Pitchers' Duel to Eagles

April 26, 2013

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. —  The Miami Hurricanes came out on the wrong end of a pitchers’ duel Friday afternoon at Eddie Pellagrini Diamond at Shea Field, dropping their series opener to homestanding Boston College by a final score of 1-0.

Sophomore lefthander Chris Diaz (3-4) delivered another dominant outing, scattering just four hits and one unearned run over eight full innings of work. The visitors were unable to generate enough offense off Eagles’ pitching, however, as Miami (28-17, 10-12 ACC) snapped a three-game winning streak with the loss.

The Hurricanes had runners in scoring position in two of the first three innings, including a two-on, one-out situation in the third, but were unable to convert.

With junior Brad Fieger on second base after a single and successful sacrifice bunt from freshman Brandon Lopez, junior Dale Carey was hit by the first pitch he saw from Boston College starter Hunter Gordon (1-4). Tyler Palmer nearly loaded the bases with a successful bunt but was thrown out on a close play at first, while a sharply hit grounder from Alex Hernandez was successfully handled by Eagles’ shortstop Joe Cronin to end the threat.

The Eagles built their first scoring chance of the afternoon by stringing together back-to-back singles in the bottom of the third off Miami starter Chris Diaz. The lefthander looked to have induced a potential double play ball to end the inning, but Hernandez’ throw made its way past Fieger, scoring Travis Ferrick on the throwing error. Diaz struck out Cronin swinging to limit the damage to just one run.

Miami would threaten again in the fifth, but once again came up empty against Gordon. Freshman designated hitter Roger Gonzalez, making his first career start as a Hurricane, opened the inning by reaching on an error charged to second baseman Blake Butera. A walk from Fieger gave Miami two runners on, and Lopez once again got the job done with a successful sacrifice bunt. But a strikeout from Carey and a groundout from Palmer saw the Eagles escape unharmed.

After allowing an unearned run in the third, Diaz would cruise through the middle innings, allowing just one single over his next three frames. He tied a career high with seven strikeouts on the afternoon while allowing just one walk.

The Hurricanes looked like they might finally break through in the eighth, with pinch-runner John Lawroski at third and Lopez at second after a successful double steal. But a groundout from pinch-hitter Christopher Barr and a lineout from Palmer would see the Eagles maintain their late 1-0 lead into the game’s final inning.

Eagles’ reliever Jesse Adams set the Miami lineup down in order in the ninth, clinching the series-opening 1-0 decision.

The Hurricanes will return to Shea Field Saturday afternoon for game two of their weekend series with Boston College. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.