In-state rivals meet at Conaty Park on Wednesday

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, RI – The Bryant University baseball team welcomes in-state foe Rhode Island to Conaty Park on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday's meeting will be the ninth all-time between the Bulldogs (8-12) and Rams (9-12-1). Bryant holds a 5-3 advantage in the series, having won each of the last three games. The two teams will complete their home-and-home series on April 21 in Kingston, R.I.

Bryant is coming off a weekend in which it defeated Saint Joseph's and split two games with Villanova. Junior Kyle Wilcox (Sandy Hook, Conn.) was on the mound against Saint Joseph's throwing 5.2 innings and allowing only two earned runs. Bryant had an explosive seven-run eighth inning to give them all the runs they would need to defeat the Hawks. Senior Jordan Mountford (Guelph, Ont.) led the way with two hits, three RBI, and two runs scored. 

The Black and Gold blanked the Wildcats in the first game, 6-0. Senior Trevor Lacosse (Watervliet, N.Y.) pitched eight innings only allowing five hits, while striking out four. In the second game against Villanova, the Bulldogs trailed nearly the entire game. Bryant pulled within one in the top of the eighth off a Matt Zanotta (Schenectady, N.Y.) RBI, but was unable to complete the comeback.

Freshman Justin Snyder (Georgetown, Mass.) will get the ball on Wednesday against the Rams for his third career start. Last week against Northeastern, the freshman pitched five strong innings allowing only five hits and one earned run to earn his first collegiate victory.

The Bryant bats have come alive recently as the team has won six of their last seven games. During that span, the team is averaging over seven runs per game. Mountford and Brandon Bingel (Peabody, Mass.) have been key hitters for the offense over the past seven games. Mountford has eight RBI dating back to March 24th, while Bingel has seven and four home runs.

Rhode Island looks to bounce back after a rain-shortened, 7-5 loss at Quinnipiac on Tuesday. Third baseman Mike Corin leads the Rams with 23 RBI, 23 hits, and three home runs on the season.  Freshman second baseman Chris Hess is also a key hitter for the Rams; his 20 hits are second best on the team and he has the second highest batting average among the everyday starters (.303).

Sophomore right-hander Blaise Whitman will get the start for the Rams. He is 2-1 on the season with a 3.27 ERA.

Be sure to check out bryantbulldogs.com for live stats of Wednesday's game.