DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Baseball is set for the 2019 home opener this weekend, as the Wildcats host ACC member Boston College for the first of a three-game series between the two teams at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. First pitch for Friday, Feb. 22, at 6 p.m.
 
BCU comes home to a newly refurbished surface of Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The field was completely overhauled with a state-of-the-art artificial turf that plays similar to natural grass. The Wildcats will be playing the first-ever game on the surface this weekend when hosting the visiting Eagles of Boston College.
 
AT A GLANCE
Records: Bethune-Cookman 1-3 (0-0 MEAC) | Boston College 3-0 (0-0 ACC)
Rankings: Bethune-Cookman is unranked. Boston College is unranked.
On The Web: BCUathletics.com • Twitter: @BCUDiamondCats, @JDHerns30
 
ON THE AIR
Live Stats: Live stats for each game will be available here.
 
A web stream of the game is available through the CatEye Network.
 
BETHUNE-COOKMAN VS. BOSTON COLLEGE PROBABLE STARTERS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22 (6 p.m.)
Bethune-Cookman
RHP Anthony Maldonado (0-0, 3.60 ERA)
Boston College
Dan Metzdorf (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
 
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23 (4 p.m.)
Bethune-Cookman
RHP Tyler Krull (0-0, 5.40 ERA)
Boston College  
RHP Matt Gill (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
 
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24 (1 p.m.)
Bethune-Cookman
TBD
Boston College
RHP Mason Pelio (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
 
Bethune-Cookman-Boston College Series History
• The two teams met for a three-game series back in 2017, with Bethune-Cookman sweeping the Eagles at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
• All three games were decided by just one (1) run, respectfully.
• Back-to-back RBI ninth-inning singles from Danny Rodriguez and Nate Sterijevski allowed the Cats to take the Friday night opener in a come-from-behind walk-off fashion.
• Freshman pitcher Anthony Maldonado collected his first collegiate win in Sunday's eventual series sweep by working 5.1 innings on the bump, allowing just four hits and picking up 10 strikeouts.
• Overall, BCU holds a slight 4-3 edge against the Eagles, with Boston College collecting wins in 2009 and 2011, respectfully. Bethune-Cookman grabbed an 8-2 win in 2006.
 
Last Time Out
A big first inning was too much for visiting Bethune-Cookman to erase Tuesday evening as the Wildcats fell to FIU, 9-2 in a midweek non-conference tilt at FIU Baseball Stadium. A nine-run first inning was all FIU required to surge past the visitors from Daytona Beach. Bethune-Cookman rookie pitcher Joseph Strong was welcomed rather rudely to collegiate baseball in his debut on the mound for the Maroon and Gold. The Gainesville, Florida native was tagged for eight runs on five hits and three walks in just a third of an inning of work. An Adan Fernandez two-run homer highlighted the Panthers at-bat, leading to a 9-0 lead for FIU after just an inning in the books. Bethune-Cookman found the offense with a run in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.
 
Hernandez Has Proven Winning History
Jonathan Hernandez had spent the previous three seasons at ASA College in Miami – a junior college respected by many in the nation to produce some of the best Division I talent in South Florida. Throughout his time at ASA, Hernandez received several accolades that assisted in his growth. In 2016, Hernandez helped ASA to a Division 2 Region 8 Conference runner-up finish. That same season, he coached four student-athletes in being named All-Region 8 District Team members. Just a season later in 2017, ASA was crowned Division 2 Region 8 conference champions, while seven players were named to the All-Region 8 District Team. ASA achieved 20-plus wins in each of the last three seasons…all without a home field. The team played all games on the road, each season.
 
Wildcats Present on Preseason All-MEAC Teams
Bethune-Cookman starting pitcher junior right-hander Anthony Maldonado made his way onto the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason First Team, joined by fellow Wildcats first Danny Rodriguez (first base), Zach Spivey (outfield) and Nate Sterijevski (shortstop). For both Spivey and Sterijevski, the preseason accolades are the first of their kind for the senior Florida products, while Rodriguez is making third consecutive preseason team appearance.
 
Maldonado Tabbed MEAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Anthony Maldonado, the 2018 MEAC Pitcher of the Year, made 11 starts last season, tossing three complete games in compiling a record of 6-2 and a 2.81 ERA. The hard-throwing right-hander led the MEAC in opponents' batting average (.211) and was second in the MEAC in runs allowed (24), ERA and third in earned runs allowed (20). His 74 strikeouts ranked sixth in the conference, and he gave up just 50 hits – tied for best in the MEAC, in 64.0 innings pitched.
 
Notes from the Boston College Eagles
• Dan Metzdorf became the first opening day starter to pitch seven innings or more with no earned runs since Mike King vs. NIU (2016). Sal Frelick was the first BC freshman to ho­mer in his debut since Gian Martellini in that same game vs. NIU (2016). Going further back in the record books, BC start­ed two freshmen (Frelick and Cody Morissette) for the first time on opening day since the Eagles put Chris Shaw, Logan Hoggarth and Joe Cronin in the lineup in 2013.
• Junior outfielder Joe Suozzi was voted by coaches and teammates to wear No. 8 in 2019 in honor of Peter "Sonny" Nictakis. Suozzi became the eighth player to earn the honor since Gambino ('99) instituted the team tradition to remem­ber his teammates. Nictakis was a two-time captain for the Eagles in 1998 and 1999. He lost his courageous seven-year battle with Hodgkin's disease in the summer of 2000. Until 2011, his No. 8 had not been worn since his final season.
• Graduate lefty Carmen Giampetruzzi served as a co-captain with Palomaki in 2018. He was elected by his teammates to serve in that role in 2019. Last season, he also wore the No. 8 jersey and pitched in four games before being shut down for labrum surgery.
 
Up Next for BCU
Bethune-Cookman continues its 23-game homestand with a four-game weekend set a week from Friday against Ohio State University. The series will take place with single game efforts coming on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
 
Follow Bethune-Cookman Baseball on Twitter (@BCUDiamondCats) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).
 

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