BC Bird Ball: 2021 Baseball Season Starts Friday in Charleston

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BC Second Preseason Pitcher of the Year Pelio Back to the Mound on Opening Day

Weekend Pitching Match-Ups

Friday, 3 p.m.: RHP-Mason Pelio (1-2, 4.09) vs. RHP-RJ Petit (0-0, 1.80)

Saturday, 1:30 p.m.: RHP-Emmet Sheehan (1-1, 8.16) vs. RHP-Krishna Raj (0-0, 9.00)
Sunday, Noon: LHP-Joe Vetrano (collegiate debut) vs. RHP-Daniel Padysak (2-2, 3.38)

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — The Boston College baseball team opens the 2021 season at Charleston Southern opening day, Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. The Eagles and Buccaneers are set for a three-game set at CSU Ballpark, which will continue Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday at Noon.

About the Eagles…

BC returns to the field after a brief 6-9 campaign in 2020. The Eagles last played on March 10, 2020; a 10-7 win over Holy Cross in the earliest home game in program history. Boston College features three preseason All-Americans in juniors Sal Frelick, Cody Morissette, and Mason Pelio. Frelick, an outfielder, is a career .332 hitter and hit just .241 in 2020; beginning the year on an 11-game hit streak and finishing in a 0-for-18 slump. The third baseman, Morissette lifted his career average to .346 with a team-high .448 average in 2019. Pelio, a right-hander, resumes his role as the Friday night starter. He owns a 5-5 career record with a 3.73 earned run average and 81 strikeouts in 94 innings. BC returns eight of nine batters from its 2020 lineup and every inning pitched a season ago. Fifth-year infielders Jack Cunningham (first base) and Brian Dempsey (shortstop) returned for one last run in 2021. Cunningham hit .424 with three doubles and two doubles last season, while Dempsey hit .339 to move his career average to .298.

Scouting the Buccaneers…

Charleston Southern begins the Marc MacMillan era under its first-year head coach this season. The Buccaneers finish 2020 with a 7-12 record, including a win over Kansas. CSU returns its entire weekend rotation in RJ Petit, Krishna Raj, and Daniel Padysak. A 6-foot-8 righty, Petit is a two-time Big South Preseason Pitcher of the Year. He was a Freshman All-American in 2019 with a 2.45 ERA, five saves, and a 4-0 record. Outfielder Alex Adronica is the Bucs’ top returning hitter with a .321 average. He slugged .500 with a .415 on-base percentage and eight RBI.

All-Time vs. CSU…

The lone meeting between Boston College and Charleston Southern came on opening weekend 2006; the final year of the Pete Hughes era. The Eagles swept an opening day doubleheader by scores of 5-2 and 15-10. Jett Ruiz was a combined 5-for-10 with five RBI in the twin bill. Terry Doyle threw 6.2 innings in the opener; surrendering two runs on five hits. Michael Wanamaker won the nightcap with 4.1 innings of relief with one unearned run against him.

Golden Spikes Watch List…

Sal Frelick and Cody Morissette were both named to the Golden Spikes Award watch list by USA Baseball. Since 2008, only one BCA player has been on the watch list; Chris Shaw in 2015. The watch list is comprised of 55 players from 43 institutions. Boston College is in elite company as one of 11 schools with multiple candidates, including Arkansas, Florida, Louisville, Miami, Ole Miss, Tennessee, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Virginia, and Wake Forest.

Morissette Keeps it 100…

Cody Morissette singled in the first inning vs. Holy Cross (3/10/20) for the 100th of his career. The milestone hit came in his 73rd career game; making him the fastest player in BC history to 100 career hits. Morissette became the eighth BC player on record (2004-present) to pick up his 100th career hit by his sophomore season. Former first-round pick, Tony Sanchez previously held the record (100 hits in 81 games) and still holds the record for most hits (119) in 100 career games; set in 2008 as a sophomore.

Season Openers…

Boston College is 24-24 in season openers on record and 5-5 under head coach Mike Gambino. The Eagles opened 2020 with a 7-2 win over Northern Illinois in Winter Haven, Fla. It marked the third straight opening day victory and first time winning three straight openers since 2008-10.

-BC-