Bingel hits first homer as Bulldogs blank Knights Friday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior Kevin McAvoy (Syracuse, N.Y.) struck out 10 over seven shutout innings and freshman Brandon Bingel (Peabody, Mass.) hit his first-career home run as the Bryant University baseball team defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 6-0 on Friday afternoon at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.

The Bulldogs (34-12, 14-3 NEC) also benefited from 11 walks to earn their 15th victory in 17 tries against the Knights (13-27, 4-13). The shutout was the eighth of the season for the Black and Gold.

Bryant wasted little time getting on the board as freshman Cole Fabio (Mahwah, N.J.) walked to open the game, advanced to second on a wild pitch, to third on a balk and scored on a sac fly from junior Carl Anderson (Sudbury, Mass.).

The Bulldogs put the game away with five runs in the fourth. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with no outs and freshman Matt Albanese (East Haddam, Conn.) worked a walk to bring home a run. Sophomore Robby Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) delivered a sac fly and classmate Buck McCarthy (Saugus, Mass.) scored moments later on a throwing error from the catcher. Bingel then launched his first-career home run, a two-run shot, to make it 6-0.

McAvoy did the rest, allowing just five hits over seven innings to run his record to 7-1. He walked two and struck out 10, the second time he has registered double-digit strikeouts this season. McAvoy struck out two in four of the first five innings and then induced a 4-6-3 double play in the sixth after the Knights opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Senior Jonathan Cohen (Norwalk, Conn.) took over in the eighth and retired all six batters he faced to close the door.

Bingel and Anderson each reached base three times with a hit and two walks, while McCarthy and Albanese also drew two walks.

The Bulldogs and Knights continue their series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.