Posted: Mar 10, 2010

BASEBALL DEFEATS VIRGINIA TECH 5-3 WEDNESDAY BEHIND 13-HIT ATTACK

March 10, 2010

BRYANT BASEBALL DEFEATS VIRGINIA TECH 5-3 WEDNESDAY

Dylan Stone (Portsmouth, R.I.) had four hits in Bryant's 5-3 win over Virginia Tech Wednesday. www.dspics.com

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Behind a season-high 13-hit attack, the Bryant University baseball team picked up a 5-3 win over Virginia Tech Wednesday afternoon at English Field. Dylan Stone (Portsmouth, R.I.) had four hits on the day and the Bulldogs got a big lift with a strong pitching performance by newcomer making his first start in a Bulldog uniform.

With the Bulldogs lookign to bounce back from a tough 5-4 loss to the Hokies Tuesday, Bryant sent Peter Kelich (Jackson, N.J.) to the mound for his first start of the year against a tough Hokie lineup and the freshman responded.

After Virginia Tech (9-3) took a quick lead with a run in the second, the Bulldogs’ bats came alive in the top of the third, scoring three times to take a 3-1 lead. Connor Carignan (Norwich, Conn.) led off the inning with a double. Stone followed with a double of his own, his third of the season to put runners at second and third with no outs. Senior Nick Campbell (Raynham, Mass.) came up with the big hit, tying the game one batter later with an RBI single to make it 1-1.

But the Bulldogs (2-7) weren’t through just yet. Jeff Vigurs (South Windsor, Conn.) followed with a sacrifice fly to center to score Stone from third. Campbell would move up to third following a single by Jordan English (Windsor Locks, Conn.) and would eventually score on a sacrifice fly to left by Jamie Skagerlind (Holden, Mass.).

Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.) would give Bryant a 4-1 lead with an RBI. The Bulldogs led by the same score against the Hokies Tuesday but couldn’t hold on as Virginia Tech would rally with two runs in the seventh and eighth.

This time, the Bulldogs would finish strong to close out the trip on a high-note. After Virginia Tech cut the lead to 4-2 with a run in the fifth, David Soltis gave the Bulldogs a little breathing room with an RBI single in the eighth to make it 5-2.

With closer Mark Andrews (Hillsborough, N.J.) on to pitch the ninth, the Hokies threatened, putting two runners on base and after Andrews got Luke Padgett to strike out for the second out of the innings, leadoff hitter Andrew Ryan came up with an RBI single to make it 5-3.

But Andrews would settle down, striking out Andrew Rash on a 3-2 count to end the game and pick up his second save of the season.

Kelich pitched very well, going eight innings allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits and striking out five.

A day after English’s four-hit game, Stone came through with his own four-hit game in leading the Bulldogs to the win. Carignan was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Bryant will wrap up the long road trip Thursday when the Bulldogs travel to West Virginia for a 3:30 p.m. game. Bryant will return home next week, hosting Boston College next Wednesday in the home opener at 3:30 p.m.