Boston College Baseball: Birdball Sweeps Opening Day Doubleheader

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MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The Boston College baseball team hit four home runs in its season opener, a 12-4 win, over Charleston Southern and swept its doubleheader with a 12-1 victory in game two at Shipyard Park.

The Eagles scored in five consecutive innings, beginning with a solo home run in the third by graduate right fielder Dante Baldelli (Cranston, R.I.). In the seventh, Baldelli added his second home run of the day, which pushed the BC lead to 12-2.

Junior catcher Peter Burns (Reading, Mass.) and junior third baseman Cody Morissette (Exeter, N.H.) hit two-run home runs in the fourth and fifth, respectively. Morissette finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Burns went 2-for-4 with three runs and threw out a runner.

On the mound, junior right-hander Mason Pelio (San Diego, Calif.) threw five-shutout innings for the Eagles. Pelio (1-0) struck out four, walked two, and allowed three hits, while also picking off the first runner to reach in the first. CSU righty RJ Petit (0-1) gave up five runs, four earned, on five hits and three walks in 4.1 innings to take the loss.

In game two, Boston College raced out to an early lead with three runs in the top of the first in support of junior right-hander Emmet Sheehan (Darien, Conn.). Sheehan (1-0) tossed six-scoreless innings with a career-high nine strikeouts with just two hits and two walks allowed.

The Eagles scored single runs in the third, fourth, and sixth innings. The game was broken open with a four-run seventh and two more runs were added in the eighth. Graduate shortstop Brian Dempsey (Potomac, Md.) drove in four RBI in a 3-for-4 game. Junior center fielder Sal Frelick (Lexington, Mass.) added a 3-for-5 game with two runs and two stolen bases.

Graduate lefty Joey Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.) earned a three-inning save. He allowed one run on two hits and two walks with five strikeouts; matching a career-high.

DETAILS
Score: Boston College 12-12, Charleston Southern 4-1
Records: Boston College 2-0; Charleston Southern 0-2
Location: Shipyard Park (Charleston, S.C.)
Attendance: 289

BC Game One Highlights

Pelio faced the minimum number of batters the first time through the order with a first-inning pickoff and three strikeouts.
The Eagles homered in three consecutive innings from the third to fifth with Baldelli getting the scoring started with a solo shot in the third. Burns and Morissette followed with two-run blasts in each of the next two innings.

Game One Notes

BC’s four home runs were the most in a season opener since three at Georgia Southern (2/23/08); hit by Marc Perdios, Eric Campbell, and Matt Hamlet.
The Eagles are 25-24 in season openers on record and 6-5 under head coach Mike Gambino. BC has won four straight season openers for the first time since 1975-78 under head coach Eddie Pellagrini.
Baldelli hit the fourth and fifth career home runs, becoming the first Eagle to hit two home runs in a game since Morissette vs. Fairfield (3/1/20) and the first on record (2005-present) to do so on opening day.
Burns hit his third; all in his last seven games dating back to 2020.
Morissette collected his 30^th career multi-hit game with his seventh career home run.
Morissette extended his career-best hit streak to 12 games dating back to 2020.

BC Game Two Highlights

The Eagles scored three runs in the first on two hits, two walks, two hit batters, and an error.
Sheehan allowed the first two to reach in the first before setting down the next three, including two strikeouts.
Three straight one-out hits, including doubles by Baldelli and Galland, produced the first two runs of a four-run top of the seventh.

Game Two Notes

Gold picked up his fifth career multi-hit game.
Gold doubled in each game to push his career total to six in just 17 games.
Morissette moved his career-best reached base streak to 17 games with a walk.
Galland stole a base in each game to push his career total to 47, which is tied for fourth all-time with Dave Fraser (1989-92).
Frelick recorded his 22^nd career multi-hit game.
Frelick stole two bases to lift his career total to 27.
Dempsey matched his career-high in RBI with four; marking the fifth such occasion in his career.

UP NEXT
Boston College and Charleston Southern conclude the series Sunday at 11 a.m. back at Shipyard Park.