Bryant, Sacred Heart open four-game series Thursday in Bridgeport; Thursday's DH now starting at 1pm

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team wraps up Northeast Conference regular-season play this week with a four-game series at rival Sacred Heart. It all begins on Thursday with a day/night doubleheader scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. at the Ballpark in Harbor Yard in Bridgeport.

**Thursday's doubleheader, originally scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m., will now begin at 1:00 p.m.**

LINKS

Thursday – Live Stats Gm1 | Live Stats Gm2

Friday – Live Stats

Saturday – Live Stats

PROBABLE PITCHERS

James Karinchak (6-1, 2.76) vs. Brent Teller (2-2, 4.15)

Craig Lacey (0-1, 4.32) vs. Baylor Sundahl (3-6, 4.48)

Steve Theetge (7-5, 4.19) vs. James Taubl (3-7, 5.59)

Jack Patterson (3-0-3, 2.35) vs. John Sostarich (3-4, 7.00)

The Bulldogs used Karinchak just three innings last Saturday so that he would be ready to go for Thursday's opener. He fired three perfect innings against the Mount and is now 17-2 against NEC opponents in his career. For Theetge, his two-hit shutout of Mount was his second shutout of the year and lowered his ERA to 4.19 on the year. He is 7-5 on the season and has won each of his last six decisions. Patterson brings a 21-inning scoreless streak into this weekend, one in which he has struck out 25 and walked seven. Because of the quick turnaround this week, Lacey will make a spot start in the place of freshman Vito Morgese (Warwick, N.Y.) who pitched on Sunday.

Teller pitched five innings and allowed two runs on six hits against Bryant earlier this year. He left the game with SHU on top 3-2 but the Bulldogs rallied against the Pioneers bullpen to earn the win. Sundahl has been good his last three starts, allowing two earned runs or less in all three games. Taubl had a strong 2016 but has surrendered 94 hits in 66 innings this year. He allowed seven runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 against Bryant earlier this year. Sostarich has struggled with command this year, walking 33 batters in 37 innings.

SERIES HISTORY

Bryant owns a 24-12 lead in the all-time series with Sacred Heart after winning a pair of games at Conaty Park in the beginning of April. The Bulldogs won 8-5 and 7-5, using three fifth-inning runs and five sixth-inning runs in the two games. Bryant and Sacred Heart have met in the NEC Tournament in each of the last four years, playing for the NEC title in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

BULLDOGS HAVE EYES SET ON SIXTH-STRAIGHT REGULAR-SEASON TITLE

The Bulldogs will head to Bridgeport with a chance to secure an unprecedented sixth-consecutive NEC Regular-Season title. If Bryant wins all four games they will clinch the title. If the Bulldogs win three-of-four, they will need Central Connecticut to lose at least one of its final eight games. Similarly, if Bryant splits the four games, it will need CCSU to lose at least two of its final eight games.

NOTES AND NOTABLES FOR SACRED HEART

Bryant enters the week on a nine-game winning streak, with all nine coming at home. The streak is the longest of the season for the Bulldogs and is currently the second-longest in the country.

The Bulldogs' 9-0 homestand was their best homestand in program history and improved their home record to 16-1. Bryant owns the fourth-best home record in the country and their 10-game winning streak at home is currently tied for the longest in the country.

Junior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) was named the NEC Player of the Week on Monday after reaching base safely in 15 of his 17 plate appearances against Mount St. Mary's. Following the weekend, Gasper is now hitting .358, leads the NEC in RBI (47) and is second in the NEC in OBP (.481).

Sophomore Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) is hitting .360 with 23 walks and only 11 strikeouts over his last 34 games.

Classmate Tyler Panno (Rivervale, N.J.) currently ranks fourth nationally with six triples. It is the most triples in a single season at Bryant since Kevin Brown hit seven in 2010.

The freshmen quartet of Jimmy Titus (Stafford, Conn.), Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.), James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) and Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.) has combined to hit .322 with 17 doubles, seven home runs, 69 RBI, 76 runs, 41 walks and only 46 strikeouts over the last 27 games.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS

Sacred Heart enters the week in dire need of some wins to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Pioneers were swept by CCSU in a three-game series last weekend and now sit at 9-10 in the league. SHU is hitting .258 as a team and has posted a 5.59 team ERA. PJ DeFilippo has been the Pios best hitter and comes in batting .324 with 28 RBI. He's hitting .426 with a .514 OBP in 18 NEC games.

Jackson Aldam has been SHU's top reliever this year, appearing in 22 games. He has walked 16, struck out 18 and allowed 42 hits in 36 1/3 innings.