Boston College 6, Duke 3: Shaw Blasts Walk-Off To Lift Eagles To Another Win!

We totally understand if you're down in the dumps over the exit of the Boston College hockey team from the NCAA Tournament. We get that it's depressing to realize that the "exciting time of the year," where basketball and hockey come right after football, is over. There's probably a void you're looking to fill.

In one Chris Shaw swing, you might be able to find what can fill that void.

After the Duke Blue Devils came back in the top of the ninth inning against BC, Shaw blasted a three-run homer to walk off the Eagles' fourth straight victory, 6-3, on Saturday afternoon.

BC took a 3-1 lead into the top of the ninth inning, but the Blue Devils came back with a big time rally. Mike Rosenfeld led off the frame against Geoffrey Murphy by popping up towards first base, but freshman Mitch Bigras dropped the ball, allowing the runner to reach. Mike Gambino quickly went to his bullpen after the lead-off man reached, bringing in lefty Jesse Adams to face Justin Bellinger, who he struck out.

Playing the situation, Gambino then went back to the bullpen with one out for closer John Nicklas. He was met by back-to-back singles by Cris Perez and Peter Zyla, bringing in Rosenfeld to cut the lead to 3-2. Nicklas rallied to strike out pinch hitter Grant McCabe, but Jalen Phillips singled home the tying run, forcing BC to take its last ups.

Jake Palomaki led off the bottom of the ninth with a single through the left side, and Joe Cronin sacrificed him up to second. Duke decided to pitch around Michael Strem, issuing a four-pitch walk to set up a force play. That brought up Shaw, who tattooed one over the scoreboard in right to send the Eagles into a frenzy.

BC originally had a 2-0 lead in the game behind single tallies in the second and sixth innings. Duke responded with one in the top of the seventh, but the Eagles got it back in the bottom of the inning.

Offensively, Palomaki finished 4-for-5 with two runs scored, and Stephen Sauter went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Cronin, Strem, Shaw, Donovan Casey, Nick Sciortino, Bigras, and Adams all pitched in a shit as all Eagles recorded at least one. Shaw led BC with the three RBI in the key spot.

On the hill, John Nicklas (1-0) picked up the win despite the blown save, allowing three hits and one run (unearned) in 0.2 innings of work. He struck out both outs he recorded.

Mike King started for BC and turned in a stellar performance, going 6.2 innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits while striking out five and walking one. Nick Poore allowed a hit to the only batter he faced in the seventh, and Murphy went 1.1 innings in relief of him. Jesse Adams retired the only batter he faced.

Mitch Stallings (3-3) absorbed the loss for Duke, charged with one run on two hits. Kenny Koplove gave up the homer to Shaw while also walking Strem, finishing with a no decision.

Andrew Istler went 5.2 innings for the Blue Devils, allowing two runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking one. Sarkis Ohanian went 1.1 innings, with Stallings throwing 1.1 as well.

The Eagles will go for a sweep of Duke this afternoon when they take on the Blue Devils with first pitch at noon.