Bryant set for four games at Delaware this weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team wraps up its spring break trip with a four-game series against the University of Delaware beginning on Friday afternoon.  

Bryant and Delaware will play single nine-inning games on Friday and Sunday, while Saturday will feature one nine-inning game and one seven-inning game.

The Particulars

Opponent: Delaware

Location: Bob Hannah Stadium

Times: Gm 1 – 3pm | Gm 2 – 12pm | Gm 3 – 3pm | Gm 4 – 1pm

Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4

Game Notes: Bryant

Pitching Probables

Friday – Jack Patterson (1-1, 5.82) vs. Matt Hornich (1-0, 2.19)

Saturday (Gm 1) – Steve Theetge (0-4, 7.02) vs. Kyle Hinton (1-1, 1.54)

Saturday (Gm 2) – Tyler Mattison (0-0, 11.57) vs. Nick Spadafino (0-3, 9.00)

Sunday – Vito Morgese (1-1, 6.62) vs. Billy Sullivan IV (2-0, 2.04)

Bryant's weekend rotation remains the same except for the addition of Tyler Mattison (Fort Ann, N.Y.). The freshman will make his first collegiate start in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader after opening the year with four relief appearances. Senior Jack Patterson (Suffield, Conn.) picked up his first win of the year last Friday despite walking a career-high seven batters. He allowed just one hit through 6 2/3 innings. Sophomore Vito Morgese (Warwick, N.Y.) struck out six at Maryland and leads Bryant with 21 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.

Delaware will trot out a very experienced rotation this weekend with a senior and two juniors ahead of freshman Billy Sullivan IV. Matt Hornich got the start against Bryant in 2016 and allowed five runs on five hits over 2 1/3 innings. Hinton's been great of late, striking out 19 and allowing just four hits over his last 13 1/3 innings.

Series History

• Bryant and Delaware will be meeting for the third time in program history (all since 2014).
• The Bulldogs have won four of the five games after taking three-of-four in 2014 and winning a midweek game in 2016.
• Bryant has scored 10+ runs in each of its four wins over Delaware. The Black and Gold scored 16 in 2016.
• The Bulldogs and Blue Hens played their 2014 series at Harford Community College in Bel Air, Md. The teams combined to score 55 runs and hit 14 home runs in the four games.  

Bulldog Notes and Notables

• The Bulldogs dropped two-of-three at Maryland last weekend, winning 7-3 on Friday afternoon. It was only Bryant's second win over Maryland.
• Bryant was scheduled to play a midweek game at Virginia Tech but it was canceled due to snow.
• The Black and Gold hit well for the second-straight weekend. They out-hit the Terrapins, 34-30, and finished the weekend with eight extra-base hits.
• Sophomore James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) was named Northeast Conference Co-Player of the Week and freshman Shane Kelly (Sewell, N.J.) was named NEC Rookie of the Week on Monday. The Bulldogs have now won nine weekly honors in the first four weeks of the season.
• Ciliento was on fire last weekend, going 9-for-12 with five runs scored, two doubles and two stolen bases. He posted three hits in all three games and is now hitting .452 on the year. Ciliento ranks 18 nationally.
• Kelly went 6-for-11 with a double, home run and five RBI in three games at Maryland. He exploded on Saturday, going 3-for-4 with his first-career home run and a career-high four RBI.
• Kelly is hitting .476 (10-21) with nine RBI, six runs scored and a .542 OBP during his current five-game hitting streak.
• Bryant's leadoff batter, redshirt-freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) has reached safely in each of his last eight games. He's now hitting .314 with a .379 OBP.

Scouting the Blue Hens

• Delaware enters the weekend with a 9-5 overall record. The Blue Hens won the CAA in 2017 and advanced to the NCAA Regionals in Lubbock, Texas.
• The Blue Hens are in the midst of an eight-game homestand are 4-1 in their last five. Two of those wins have come against Maryland, including a walk-off win on Tuesday.
• Delaware is hitting .241 as a team and have posted a team ERA of 3.67. The Blue Hens are averaging five runs per game.
• Kyler Baker leads the team with a.400 average and is one of three regulars hitting over .300. He seven XBHs and has driven in a team-high 12 runs.
• Colman Vila has been the most-used arm out of the bullpen, having appeared in seven of the first 14 games. He has not allowed a run in 9 1/3 innings.

Bob Hannah Stadium

• Delaware's Bob Hannah Stadium is an all-turf field, including the pitching mound.
• It's dimensions are 320' to left, 352' to left center, 400' to center, 365' to right center and 330' to right. There is a 20-foot high wall in left field and the wind primarily blows out right.