Baseball sweeps NEC weekly honors

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior Tyler Panno (Rivervale, N.J.), sophomore Vito Morgese (Warwick, N.Y.) and freshman Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) were all recognized on Monday as the Bryant University baseball team swept the Northeast Conference weekly awards.

Panno earned his first NEC Player of the Week award, Morgese was named the NEC Pitcher of the Week for the first time in his career and Owens won his second-straight rookie of the week honor.

Bryant's starting third baseman, Panno went 4-for-12 with a double, two home runs and seven RBI in three games against Auburn last weekend. He put on a power display in the opener, posting his first-career multi-homer game and driving in a career-high-tying six runs. Panno had a sac fly in the first, clubbed a two-run home run in the fourth and then hit a three-run jack in the seventh. He finished the weekend with an RBI double.

Morgese was brilliant in the series finale against the Tigers, as he tossed six shutout innings. He scattered three hits, walked two and struck out a career-high eight batters. It was the fifth quality start of Morgese's career and he left the game with the Bulldogs in front, 1-0.

Owens picks up his second weekly honor after another strong week at the plate. He went 4-for-9 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. After going hitless in the opener, Owens went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in game two. He singled and scored in the third and then ripped a two-out RBI double before scoring the game-tying run in the fourth.

The Bulldogs play three games in Cary, North Carolina, this weekend. Bryant will face Army, Boston College and Niagara as part of the Army Invitational at the USA Baseball Complex.

Fans can also follow Bryant University baseball on Twitter and Instagram to get an inside look at the program.