WALTHAM, Mass. – Bob DeFelice's 53rd season as the only head baseball coach in Bentley University will get underway Saturday afternoon with his Bentley Falcons hosting Franklin Pierce University Ravens in a noon doubleheader on DeFelice Field. The first pitch is slated for 12 noon.

In keeping with Northeast-10 policies, no spectators will be allowed.  However, live video will be available on the NE10 NOW digital network at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/bentley/.

With the 2020 season curtailed while the team was still on the Florida portion of its schedule, this will be the first game on DeFelice Field since May 7, 2019, a span of 690 days.

The two teams were also scheduled to play a twinbill on Sunday, but due to the inclement weather forecast, that has been moved to Wednesday at noon.

In terms of everyday players, Bentley was hit hard by graduation following last year's abbreviated 5-9 season. The most experienced returnees are graduate first baseman Ryan Berardino (Sudbury/ Lincoln-Sudbury Reg. HS), a former Red Sox draft choice whose resume includes 139 hits, 80 RBI and a .302 average, and senior second baseman Kyle Halloran (Hopkinton/Hopkinton HS). He started all 14 games last spring and hit .224.

DeFelice has four experienced starting pitchers, including graduate righty Paul Frisoli (Watertown/Arlington Catholic HS), who has a career record of 10-7 in 29 career starts. He lost his only decision last year, but had a 2.66 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.

Senior righty Evan Christopulos (Andover/Andover HS) was 4-1 with a 3.22 ERA in 2019 and will begin this season with a 6-4 career record. Senior lefthanders Jared Brooks (Hollis Center, Maine/ Cheverus HS) and Lloyd Hill (Milton/Milton HS) are also expected to be a part of the rotation.

Working out of the bullpen will be senior right-handers Jimmy Cunningham (Chatham, N.J./Chatham HS). Jimmy Hodgson (Newton/Newton North HS) and Ronald Orie III (Sandy Spring, Md./Our Lady of Counsel), and junior righties Zach Zdimal (Scottsdale, Ariz./Notre Dame Prep) and Brandon Ostiguy (East Greenbush, N.Y./East Greenbush HS).

Last year, Cunningham struck out 11 in nine innings. Zdimal had a 2.25 ERA in 10 relief assignments in 2019, and Hodgson has a 5-4 career record with three saves.