Baseball season preview: Led by Angelini, Bulldog outfield primed for big 2018

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Led by the return of two-time All-NEC First Team selection junior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.), the Bryant University baseball team has high hopes for its outfield in 2018.

In addition to Angelini, the Bulldogs will also welcome back their starting right fielder sophomore James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) and their opening day left fielder redshirt-freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.).

"We have an aggressive group and we have players that are in the right spots for their skill sets," head coach Steve Owens said. "They have to go and make plays for us and I think they have the ability to do that."

Angelini is coming off another stellar performance in 2017 as he hit .318 with 15 doubles, four triples, six home runs, 37 RBI, 46 runs scored and a team-high 19 stolen bases. If anything, Angelini has proven he can get hits in clutch situations in his first two seasons in Smithfield. Angelini's first-career home run powered Bryant to a win over Kentucky in 2016, while he contributed a game-tying two-run home run against Fairleigh Dickinson and a walk-off single against Northeastern in 2017.

What the Bulldogs are even more excited about is the continued upside that Angelini has shown. The New Hampshire native enters his third season in Smithfield more confident than ever after having a full season as the everyday center fielder under his belt. Add in his summer experience in the Cape Cod League and Angelini is prepared for another breakout year. For his career, Angelini has posted a .330/.440/.500 slash line, joining teammate Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) as the only two players in DI program history to do so. He has scored 93 runs in his first two seasons and is 28-for-35 in stolen base attempts.

"Going into his second year in center is a big advantage for Nick," Owens said. "Comfort level is a big positive for Nick. Offensively, he's been very consistent for us and I think if he just stays within his approach he can put up big numbers this year."

It also helps that when Angelini looks to his left and right he will see familiar faces. Ciliento, a tough-nosed kid who is a very aggressive outfielder, enters the season as the likely right fielder. It took him a few weeks to earn the starting role but he eventually started 33 games in right, including each of the final 23.

Ciliento also saw his offensive numbers tick up as the season went on. After hitting just .164 (9-for-55) in his first 25 games, he hit .333 (22-for-66) with a home run, 15 RBI and 14 runs scored over his final 17 games.

"He finished last year well and I think he got more comfortable knowing that he belongs," Owens said. "We want him to lengthen our lineup and help turn it over and be a really tough out."

Ward returns in left and is healthy and primed to pick up right where he left off last spring as a true freshman. He started each of the first 10 games of the season in left and was hitting right in the middle of the lineup. He batted .238 (10-for-42) with two home runs, eight RBI and four runs scored and was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week in week one after homering twice and driving in four runs in the second game of his career. Ward's season came to a screeching halt, however, when he dove for a ball at Liberty and injured his wrist.

"It was a very big loss when Ryan went down last year," Owens said. "He's an aggressive outfielder, he should be a base-stealing threat for us and he's a really good two-strike hitter. Ryan can handle the bat and can execute other situational things besides getting a hit."

The Bulldogs will also feature some good outfield depth in 2018. Senior Malik Daley (Northborough, Mass.) and redshirt-junior Nolan Hayward (Glendale, R.I.) both bring experience, while freshman Shane Kelly (Sewell, N.J.) has the chance to make an immediate impact.

Daley and Hayward have both made the most of their opportunities over the last two seasons. A walk-on, Daley has filled some big roles for the Bulldogs in his career, having appeared in 67 games in two seasons. He went 8-for-49 last season, contributing two doubles and five RBI. Hayward made his first-career start last year and has been a reliable bat off the bench as a pinch-hitter. He went 6-for-23 last year with two doubles and is 10-for-28 (.357) in his career.

"Malik has done a good job of being ready to go when we've needed him over the past two years and we feel comfortable with his experience in a variety of roles," Owens said. "Nolan is stronger and a much better hitter than he was a year ago and his aggressive mentality at the plate will be utilized by the club."

Kelly gives the Bulldogs another very athletic option in the outfield. A standout at Deptford Township, Kelly has shown the ability to hit for average and power over the course of the fall and winter workouts, and has the chance to see time at DH as well as in the outfield.

"Shane is a very talented offensive player with good size, an advanced swing and a great amount of power potential," Owens said. "He's right in the mix to play every day, as well as getting ABs at the DH spot."