10 Thoughts After a 19-Run Doubleheader Sweep
Sal Frelick had a walkoff single in the first game, then the Eagles' bats powered them to a win in the nightcap.
It wasn’t always pretty, but Boston College swept a doubleheader with Northern Illinois on Saturday. The Eagles blew a lead and needed a walkoff single in the first game, then pulled away late in the second game on the strength of that same bullpen. After scoring seven runs on Friday night, the bats didn’t slow down and totaled 19 runs over two games.
Here are 10 thoughts, facts, and stats as for the first time under Mike Gambino, BC has started back-to-back seasons 3-0.
1) This was Sal Frelick’s day, even if it didn’t get off to the most glorious start.
The sophomore outfielder was 0-for-5 to start the first game, grounding out in four of his first five times at the plate. Then, in the bottom of the ninth—and down to his final strike— he stepped up and laced a walkoff single through the right side.
That evidently provided a lot of momentum for the sophomore, as he was a thorn in the Huskies’ side in the nightcap. Frelick reached base all five times, drawing three walks and registering a pair of singles. He scored four runs and stole two bases as well.
2) The bullpen had a mixed bag of results.
In the first game, BC had a slim 8-6 lead entering the ninth after three strong innings from Barry Walsh in his season debut. Then, just like that, the Eagles were staring a two-run deficit. Will Hesslink’s first outing of the year didn’t go as planned, as he put two runners on with two outs and then walked back-to-back runners. Brian McMonagle’s debut didn’t start gloriously, either, as he entered and surrendered a bases-clearing triple to Northern Illinois shortstop Dylan Lonteen.
In the second game, though, it was the bullpen that stepped up when it needed too. After starter Joe Mancini was chased following a two-run home run from Jake Dunham, the combination of Hesslink, Jon Campbell, Daniel Baruch, and McMonagle combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings. They weren’t always pretty, as Campbell and Baruch both had to escape bases-loaded jams and McMonagle brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but they preserved the lead.
3) Still, it was interesting to see the newcomers slot in.
Of the seven pitchers that threw on Saturday, four were freshman making their first career outings. We knew that the bullpen had a void after departures and needed pitchers to step up, and I think we’ll see a lot of fresh faces before settling in. Walsh, Campbell, Baruch, and McMonagle are all first-year arms and the last of those pitched in both games in key moments. Whether McMonagle continues to be a go-to arm will be interesting. He was the last BC pitcher in each game and registered his first career save.
4) The same could be said about the two starters.
Joey Walsh went five innings in the opener, allowing five runs—three earned—on four hits. He struggled with command at times, walking five and striking out just one, but was able to strand five Huskies and retired six of the last seven batters he faced. Then, Mancini didn’t make it out of the fifth in the nightcap. He put a lot of runners on, allowing seven hits and five runs (three earned) while walking three.
5) Joe Suozzi has settled into the cleanup spot.
After scoring twice in Friday’s win, Suozzi had a strong Saturday at the plate. The junior outfielder registered a pair of multi-hit games, going 4-for-8 with three runs scored, two walks, and a RBI. Last season, he raised his batting average from .250 to .282 with consistent playing time, and he’s off to an even better start this season.
6) And Jack Cunningham complements him well in the fifth spot.
In my roster preview, I wrote that Cunningham “[is] a staple in the middle of the lineup and further elevating that production could further make him one of the team’s most valuable hitters.” His first three games have been that and more. Cunningham went 5-for-7 on Saturday with two doubles and four runs scored.
7) Luke Gold has serious pop.
The only freshman in the starting lineup this season is Gold, a second baseman from Ballston Spa, N.Y. He’s shown plenty of reasons why so far, picking up a hit in each game, and they’ve reflected a potent bat. Gold had a RBI single on Friday night, then followed that up with a three-run home run in Game 1 and a double in Game 2.
8) Aaron Soucy’s day to remember.
After suffering season-ending injuries in each of the last two years, it was a good sight to see Soucy back in the starting lineup. After Peter Burns caught the first game, Soucy took over in the second and promptly launched a solo home run in what was his first at bat since Feb. 17, 2018—a full 728 days ago (h/t Brendan Flynn). He also threw out Tommy Szczasny and Jordan Larson attempting to steal later in the game.
9) This lineup has gotten off to a great start.
Through three games, only one consistent starter—Lucas Stalman, who has struck out seven times already—has less than three hits. The Eagles look balanced with contributors up and down the lineup, which bodes well with a pitching staff that is more unsettled. It was promising to see Dante Baldelli shake off an 0-for-3 debut with hits in each of Saturday’s games, as he was pegged as arguably the weakest hitter in the lineup to start the season. It’s also good that Cody Morissette is likely just scratching the surface thus far, too, as he has a hit in each game but is just 3-for-13.
10) This opening three-game win streak is eerily similar to last year.
In 2019, BC took its first three games of the year against Jackson State, scoring seven, 11, and nine runs in the victories. This year, they’ve scored seven, 11, and eight runs against the Huskies. The other difference? The Eagles didn’t get a chance to finish off a sweep of the Tigers as the fourth game was cancelled, but they’ll now have a chance for their first season-opening four-game sweep of an opponent since….you guessed it, Northern Illinois in 2016.
Next Up
The Eagles go for the series sweep today. BC will send Emmet Sheehan, a hard-throwing righthander, to the mound. Sheehan totaled 14 innings last year across 12 appearances, piling up 21 strikeouts but walking 20 and registering a 4.50 ERA. Northern Illinois didn’t announce its starter, but first pitch is scheduled for noon.
Images Courtesy of BC Athletics