Dempsey, First-Inning Surge Lifts BC Past Northern Illinois
Brian Dempsey had a three-hit, four-RBI day and Mason Pelio threw five innings of two-run ball.
There’s something magical about Opening Day. Many words have been written about the magic of the first day of baseball, all in an attempt to quantify the sheer, unrelenting optimism that fills the hearts of fan bases around the country. For Boston College, starting its 2020 campaign in Winter Haven, Fla., that optimism was alive and well. The Eagles made an inspired run in the ACC Championship last year and returned a young and talented core, so expectations coming in have been high both around the program and even in the national media.
And, in its first game of the season against Northern Illinois, BC showed flashes of what could be. The Eagles struck for four runs in the first inning—with the first four batters combining to hit for the cycle—and went on to claim a comfortable 7-2 season-opening victory over the Huskies.
BC (1-0) couldn’t of gotten off to a better start against Northern Illinois (0-1) starter Michael Lasiewicz. Sal Frelick, returning after missing the final 20 games of 2019 after season-ending knee surgery, picked up where he left off with a double to right-center. Brian Dempsey, on his way to a 3-for-4 day, launched a two-run home run to stake the Eagles to a quick lead. Cody Morissette followed with a single and Joe Suozzi promptly capped the “cycle” with a RBI triple. He came home on a single from Jack Cunningham, and just like that, BC had a four-run lead.
Eagles’ ace Mason Pelio wasn’t at his best—he walked two and hurled a pair of wild pitches—but he still totaled five innings of two-run ball. The Huskies tacked on both of their runs against him in the fourth. Dylan Lonteen brought in a run with a double, then ended up swiping home on a double steal alongside Wade Rankin. That halved BC’s lead in half while Lasiewicz was settling in. He spun five scoreless frames after the first, keeping his team in the game, and finished with five strikeouts and zero walks.
Lasiewicz’s replacement in the seventh, Kyle Seebach, flashed a strong pitch arsenal but an errant third strike to Lucas Stalman allowed the Eagles’ second baseman to reach with one out. Peter Burns followed with a single and Frelick was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. That set the stage for Dempsey, who rose to the occasion yet again with a single through the right side to score two insurance runs. In the next frame, against Northern Illinois’ righthander Paul Turelli, Luke Gold registered his first collegiate hit and brought in a run in the process.
It was largely a strong offensive game from BC, who made the most of its chances. The Eagles only stranded four runners, registering seven hits with three of those for extra base hits. Patience at the plate was a bit of an issue, with BC striking out 11 times while drawing just one walk, but that aggressive mentality served them well for the most part.
Pelio gave way to the duo of Nick Couhig and Michael Marzonie, two relievers that will aim to play key roles in a new-look BC bullpen. Couhig walked two and struck out one over two scoreless innings, while Marzonie closed out the game with two scoreless innings of his own.
All in all, it was a strong opening effort from the Eagles. From the looks of it, BC has a deep lineup that has the potential to give opposing pitchers fits. Dempsey led the way with three hits, but he was one of seven Eagles that registered hits and all nine reached base one way or another.
Next Up
BC takes on Northern Illinois twice today, starting at 1 p.m. The Eagles will send out southpaw Joey Walsh in the first game to take on the Huskies’ Brandon MacPherson, a JUCO transfer. The nightcap will feature righthander Joe Mancini up against Northern Illinois’ Ryan Anderson.
Image Courtesy of BC Athletics