Chris Hook / HookPhoto
Chris Hook / HookPhoto

Maryland rallies late to defeat Bulldogs, 5-3

COLLEGE PARK, Md. –  Sophomore James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) posted his third-straight three-hit game but the University of Maryland scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to defeat the Bryant University baseball team, 5-3, on Sunday afternoon.  

Ciliento went 3-for-4, including a game-tying RBI single in the top of the eighth but the Terrapins plated two in the bottom of the inning to secure the series victory. Sunday's performance wrapped up a weekend in which Ciliento went 9-for-12 with two RBI and five runs scored.

Game Information

Bryant 3, Maryland 5

Records: Bryant (3-9), Maryland (9-6)

Location: Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium (College Park, Md.)

W|L|S: Logan Lessard (0-1) | Hunte Parsons (2-1) | -

Coach Owens' Comments

"We were in a really competitive good game. We failed to execute getting runners in from third on two or three separate occasions that could have given us a greater margin. Their pitcher did a really nice job of making pitches and I don't feel we adjusted our approach properly enough to create more scoring opportunities. We didn't pitch well at the end of the game to win a close game. I thought Vito gave us a quality start and James Ciliento had a really good day and a great weekend along with Shane Kelly."

Key Moment

  • After Bryant tied the game, 3-3, in the top of the eighth, Maryland strung together three-straight one-out singles to break the tie. A sac fly added an insurance run.  

How it happened

  • Bryant scored first for the third time in the series. Freshman Shane Kelly (Sewell, N.J.) and sophomore Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) opened the second with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Two batters later, junior Dante Ricciardi (West Boylston, Mass.) executed a perfect safety squeeze to make it 1-0. Bryant nearly had a second run but junior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) was called out on a close play at the plate following a single from freshman Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.).  
  • Maryland answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the second. Will Watson was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on a single and scored on a fielder's choice ground out.
  • It remained tied thanks to some strong relief pitching from junior Nathan Wrighter (Windsor, N.Y.) in the fifth. He entered with two on and one out and induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.  
  • Bryant used the momentum to take the lead in the top of the sixth. Redshirt-freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) led off with a double to left center and Ciliento followed with a perfectly placed bunt. Maryland starter Hunter Parsons fielded the bunt and threw wild to first, allowing Ward to score the go-ahead run. The Bulldogs would be unable to add another run as Parson induced an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
  • The Terrapins retook the lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Zach Jancarski singled and Nick Dunn doubled to open the inning. Marty Costes then hit a ground ball to deep short to score a run. Costes was also safe as it was ruled the throw pulled the first baseman off the bag. Three batters later, A.J. Lee fell behind 0-2 but worked even before hitting a two-out RBI single to right field.
  • The Black and Gold quickly tied the game in the top of the eighth. Owens led off with a single, took second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a ground out. Ciliento then laced the first pitch from Parsons into center for a game-tying single.
  • Jancarski and Dunn started Maryland's rally in the eighth as well, hitting consecutive singles with one out. Costes then hit an 0-2 pitch through the right side to plate the lead run. A sac fly from Kevin Biondic added an insurance run.
  • Bryant put the tying runs on base in the ninth inning but Parsons finished his complete game by inducing a ground ball to third.

Stats

  • Bryant finished the game with 10 hits. The Bulldogs have 10+ hits in five of their last six games.
  • Ciliento finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base.
  • Wright had two hits.
  • Owens went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
  • Sophomore Vito Morgese (Warwick, N.Y.) started for the Bulldogs and allowed one run on six hits over 4 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six.
  • Wrighter allowed one hit, walked one and struck out two over 1 2/3 innings of relief.
  • Parsons allowed three runs on 10 hits, walked one and struck out four in his first-career complete game. Batting 1-2, Jancarski and Dunn combined to go 6-for-9 with four runs scored.

Game Notes

  • Bryant is now 2-10 all-time against Maryland. The Bulldogs have never won a series against the Terps.
  • The Bulldogs lost for just the 18th time (214-18) when leading after six innings under coach Owens.
  • Ciliento finished with three hits for the third-straight game. He now has a team-leading six multi-hit games this season and 14 in his career. Ciliento has hit safely in six-straight games. 
  • Ciliento finished the weekend 9-for-12 with two RBI, five runs scored and two stolen bases.
  • Kelly collected a hit for the fifth-straight game. He finished the weekend 6-for-11 with five RBI, two runs scored and a home run.  
  • Wright posted his third-straight multi-hit game and the fourth of the season. He has 17 multi-hit games of his career. Wright went 6-for-11 with a .615 OBP on the weekend. 
  • With his double, Ward has now reached safely in a career-high eight-straight games. 
  • Redshirt junior Nolan Hayward (Glendale, R.I.) posted his second pinch-hit single of the weekend with two outs in the ninth.
  • Morgese struck out at least six batters for the second time this season. He now has 21 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.
  • Wrighter recorded his second-straight scoreless outing and the 20th of his career. He struck out four and allowed just one hit in two appearances (2 2/3 innings) this weekend. 

Up Next

Bryant continues its spring break trip with a midweek game on Wednesday against Virginia Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.