Gallagher Crushes Two-Run Homer In The 16th To Lead Duke To 6-3 Win Over Boston College

Friday, March 31

Chestnut Hill, Mass.

2:30 PM

Duke University

Boston College

Gallagher Named Rawlings 2006 Coastal Plain League Offensive Player Of The Year

Gallagher Crushes Two-Run Homer In The 16th To Lead Duke To 6-3 Win Over Boston College

3/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

BROCKTON, Mass. ? Right fielder Jimmy Gallagher put an emphatic end to Friday's 16-inning marathon with a two-run homer and right-handed reliever Ryan Perry pitched a scoreless 16th to lead the Duke Blue Devils to a 6-3 win over the Boston College Eagles at Campanelli Stadium. The Blue Devils improve to 9-22 overall and 2-8 in the ACC while the Eagles fall to 14-11-1 overall and 3-7 in conference play.

In the top of the 16th, pinch hitter Tim Sherlock reached first after swinging at a third strike that got past catcher Shawn McGill before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by center fielder Jonathan Anderson. Sherlock would move to third on another passed ball before scoring on a wild pitch to break a 3-3 tie. After second baseman Javier Socorro drew a walk, Gallagher crushed a 3-2 offering from Eagles' reliever Nick Asselin over the right field wall to give the Blue Devils a three-run lead.

Perry (1-0) then closed out the game with three strikeouts in the bottom of the 16th to pick up his first career victory.

“We had a tough time putting the ball in play tonight but of all our hitters, Jimmy Gallagher hit the ball hard all night,” stated Duke Head Coach Sean McNally. “It was nice to see him get rewarded in the 16th with that home run.”

The Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. After Anderson reached second on a two-base error by Eagles' third baseman Johnny Ayers, second baseman Javier Socorro moved Anderson to third with a sacrifice bunt. Gallagher followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score Anderson.

Boston College grabbed a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Ayers led off the inning with a single up the middle before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Ryan Hutchinson. Left fielder Jared McGuire then grounded out to third baseman Kyle Kreick, moving Ayers to third. First baseman Dave Preziosi followed with an RBI-single to left to tie the game at 1-1. McGill then hit an RBI-double into the gap in right center to score Preziosi, giving the Eagles a one-run advantage.

Duke took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh on a two-run homer by designated hitter Nate Freiman. After shortstop Brett Bartles reached on an error, Freiman blasted a 2-0 pitch over the wall in left center for his first career home run. Freiman had missed 27 straight games due to injury entering Friday's contest.

“The return of Nate Freiman really bolstered our lineup,” McNally said. “I was excited about the way he swung the bat tonight.”

The Eagles then sent the game into extra innings by scoring on a two-out RBI-single by McGill in the bottom of the ninth.

Duke starter Danny Otero lasted 10.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out six. Freshman Andrew Wolcott added 4.2 scoreless innings in relief for the Blue Devils.

“Our pitching was outstanding,” McNally said. “Danny Otero commanded the ball well and pounded the strike zone. Andrew Wolcott showed great poise, as did Ryan Perry, who got the win.”

“This was an important win for us for a lot of reasons,” added McNally. “I'm proud of the way we defended, competed and ultimately pulled out a tough win against a good Boston College team on the road.”

The Blue Devils and Eagles will play game two tomorrow at 1 p.m. before closing out the series with a noon game on Sunday.

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