Posted: Apr 22, 2014
Bulldogs host in-state rivals URI, Brown on Tues. and Wed.
Rhode Island
(7-28)
7
Bryant
(27-10)
11
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rhode Island | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 3 |
|
Bryant | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | X | 11 | 13 | 1 |
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team begins a busy six-game week as it hosts in-state rivals Rhode Island and Brown on Tuesday and Wednesday at Conaty Park. First pitch is 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Bulldogs (26-10) are coming off a series sweep of LIU Brooklyn and are currently No. 34 in RPI. Following the mid-week contests, the Black and Gold will travel to Emmitsburg, Md., for a four-game series with Mount St. Mary's.
THE SERIES
Bryant owns a winning record against both teams. The Bulldogs are 4-3 against URI thanks to an 8-3 victory two weeks ago in Kingston. Bryant has won the last four meetings, including a 11-4 triumph last season, against Brown to hold a 6-4 series lead.
SCOUTING THE RAMS AND BEARS
Both URI and Brown enter the weekend in the midst of tough seasons. The Rams are 7-27 and 3-10 in the A-10, while the Bears are 10-20 and 4-12 in the IVY League.
Both URI and Brown enter the weekend in the midst of tough seasons. The Rams are 7-27 and 3-10 in the A-10, while the Bears are 10-20 and 4-12 in the IVY League.
URI is coming off a dramatic victory over George Mason on Sunday. The Rams rallied to tie the game after trailing 6-2 and Pat Quinn provided the heroics with a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth. URI is hitting just .218 on the year with Tim Caputo hitting a team-high .277. He also leads the team with 11 RBI, while Quinn has hit the only two home runs for the Rams this year. Tyler Barss (0-0, 1.12 ERA) will start for URI.
Brown is coming off a weekend split with Dartmouth. The Bears won the first two games before the Big Green won the final two. Daniel Massey leads a team that is hitting just .238 with a .289 average, seven doubles, six home runs, 20 RBI and 16 runs scored. J.J. Franco, the son of former MLB reliever John Franco, leads the team in runs scored with 19. The Bears have posted a 5.48 team ERA and will most likely use Wednesday as a staff day.
LAST TIME OUT
For the second-straight weekend the Bulldogs received outstanding pitching. This time, they turned it into a four-game sweep of LIU Brooklyn, the first time they've done that in five tries. Veteran lefties Jonathan Cohen and Trevor Lacosse allowed just two hits in four innings of relief on Friday, Craig Schlitter and Vaughn Hayward allowed just five total hits in a pair of complete-game performances Friday and Jack Patterson and Lacosse closed the door on a victory in Saturday's finale. Matt Albanese also aided Saturday's victory, hitting a tie-breaking home run in the top of the ninth.
DAVITT MAKING FIRST-CAREER START
After eight relief appearances, sophomore right-handers James Davitt will make his first collegiate start on Tuesday against URI. Davitt is 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 12.2 innings. Teams are hitting just .234 against him. Tuesday's start will be his first appearance since Apr. 2 at Hartford.