Bulldogs top in-state rival URI, 8-3, Wed.

KINGSTON, R.I. – Freshman Jack Patterson (Suffield, Conn.) allowed just one run on four hits over a career-high seven innings and the Bryant University baseball team scored seven runs in its first two at-bats on the way to an 8-3 victory over Rhode Island Wednesday afternoon at Bill Beck Field.

The Bulldogs (19-9) have now won 16 of their last 19 games and take a 4-3 lead in the all-time series over the Rams (6-21). The teams will complete the home-and-home series on Tuesday, April 22.

Patterson dazzled in his third-career start, tossing a career-high seven innings to improve to 2-0 on the year. After allowing a leadoff single, the rookie left-hander didn't allow a hit until he surrendered a leadoff knock in the seventh. Patterson got some defensive help along the way as a 6-4-3 double play ended a first inning threat and a 5-4-3 double play retired the Rams in the third. He struck out two in a 1-2-3 second and capped his outing by striking out the final two batters of the seventh looking to leave the bases loaded. Patterson walked four and struck out seven on the day.

Bryant jumped out to an early lead in support of Patterson, scoring seven runs in the first two innings. Freshman Matt Albanese (East Haddam, Conn.) was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored the first run of the game as junior John Mullen (Walpole, Mass.) laced a two-strike, two-out single into right center. Sophomore Robby Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) followed with a double in the right field corner to score Mullen and make it 2-0.

The Bulldogs then exploded for five runs on six hits in the second. The first four batters all recorded hits with sophomore Dan Cellucci's (Sudbury, Mass.) flare to right bringing home a run. Freshman Brandon Bingel (Peabody, Mass.) followed with an RBI single through the left side and junior Carl Anderson (Sudbury, Mass.) doubled inside the first base bag to score two and push the lead to 6-0. Mullen's RBI single to center capped the outburst and gave Bryant a 7-0 lead after two.

URI's pitching staff was able to contain the Bulldog offense the rest of the afternoon for the most part. Senior Tom Gavitt (North Stonington, Conn.) led off the sixth with a single and came around to score on a passed ball with two outs.

The Rams picked up a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth. Martin Taveras got URI on the board in the seventh with an RBI single to center. Dan Hertzel produced a sac fly and Shane O'Connell singled to produce a pair of runs in the eighth.

Offensively, all nine Bryant starters collected a hit with Mullen (2-4, 2RBI), Gavitt (2-4, 2R) and Cellucci (2-3) finishing with multiple hits. Anderson drove in two to raise his team-high total to 24.

The Bulldogs begin the defense of their Northeast Conference title this weekend as they welcome Central Connecticut to Conaty Park for a four-game series beginning on Friday, April 11.