Bulldogs erupt in 13-2 win over Delaware

NEWARK, Del. –  Redshirt freshman Ryan Ward's (Millbury, Mass.) grand slam ignited an offensive outburst as the Bryant University baseball team collected a season-high 21 hits in a 13-2 victory over Delaware on Friday afternoon at Bob Hannah Stadium.

The Bulldogs finished the afternoon with three home runs and every starter collected a hit and all but one scored on the afternoon. Senior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) led the way with four hits, while freshmen Shane Kelly (Sewell, N.J.) and Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) each finished with three hits.

Game Information

Bryant 13, Delaware 2

Records: Bryant (4-9), Delaware (9-6)

Location: Bob Hannah Stadium (Newark, Del.)

W|L|S: Jack Patterson (2-1) | Matt Hornich (1-1) | Weiner (1)

Coach Owens' Comments

"Jack was able to escape the first inning with only one run which kept us in the game early. We were able to have a big inning in the fourth and then expand on it. Jack gave us a good start and our lineup was good one through nine. We played errorless game defensively and Ross [Weiner] was able to effectively throw strikes and finish out the game without us using any additional pitching. I am please with the outcome in really adverse conditions and we are looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow and Sunday."

Key Moment

• The Bulldogs trailed 1-0 but had the bases loaded with two outs when Ward came to the plate in the fourth. He roped the first pitch from Hornich over the right field wall for his first-career grand slam, igniting a decisive six-run inning.

How it happened

• Delaware got on the board first Friday, scoring in its first at-bat. Kevin Mohollen walked to start the game and went to third on a single. A walk loaded the bases and Calvin Scott scored the first run as he beat out a potential inning-ending double play.  
• Bryant erased the deficit with six two-out runs in the top of the fourth. With two outs and the bases loaded, Ward roped the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for his first-career grand slam. The Bulldogs then strung together four-consecutive singles, with Kelly and junior Tyler Panno (Rivervale, N.J.) picking up RBIs to make it 6-1.
• The Black and Gold then used the long ball to score three times in the top of the fifth. Sophomore Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) fouled off back-to-back 3-2 pitches before launching a two-run home run to deep right. Classmate Bryan Hart (Franklin, Mass.) followed with a sharp drive to right that caught the wind and cleared the fence to make it back-to-back home runs. It was his first-career home run.
• Bryant opened the sixth with three-consecutive hits to bring home a run. Kelly and Panno both beat out infield singles and junior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) doubled inside the third-base bag. Two batters later, junior Dante Ricciardi (West Boylston, Mass.) hit a ground ball to the right side that was thrown away, allowing two runs to score.
• The Bulldogs closed their scoring with a Gasper single in the eighth. With runners on the corners and two outs, Gasper blooped a single into left to make it 13-1. 

Stats

• Bryant finished the game with 21 hits. The Bulldogs had a double, triple and three home runs.
• Senior Jack Patterson (Suffield, Conn.) picked up his second win of the year with five innings of one-run ball. He allowed just two hits, walked six and struck out six.
• Classmate Ross Weiner (Woodbridge, Conn.) earned his first save of the year with four innings of one-run relief. He allowed one run on two hits and walked three. Weiner retired the side in the sixth on just three pitches.
• Ward went just 1-for-5 but his grand slam was the decisive blow.
• Sophomore James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) went 2-for-6 with a run scored.
• Gasper finished 4-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored.
• Kelly posted three hits, including a triple.
• Panno posted two hits, including a double.
• Angelini went 2-for-5 with a double and three runs scored.
• Wright went 1-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored and a home run.
• Hart finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and his first-career home run.
• Owens went 3-for-4 with a run scored. He was also hit by a pitch.
• Hornich suffered the loss, allowing nine runs on 13 hits over four-plus innings.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 5-1 all-time against Delaware. The Bulldogs have scored 10+ runs against the Blue Hens in all five wins.
• The Bulldogs' 21 hits are the most in a game since they posted 20 against Boston College on April 27, 2016.
• Bryant is now 51-8 under coach Owens when it hits 2+ home runs in a game.
• The Bulldogs have allowed just five hits in their last two Friday games.
• Patterson struck out six or more batters for the seventh time in his career.
• Weiner's four innings of relief matched the third-longest relief outing of his career.
• Ward extended his on-base streak to a career-high nine games. His home run was his first since he went deep twice in the second game of his career in 2017.
• Ward's grand slam is the first of his career and the first by a Bulldog since Angelini hit one against URI last May.
• Ciliento has now had multiple hits in each of his last four games and leads the team with seven multi-hit games. He has 15 in his career. He also extended his hitting streak to seven games.
• Gasper's four hits are a season-high and one shy of his career high. He now has 33 career multi-hit games.
• Kelly extended his hitting streak to six games and has three three-hit games on the season.
• Kelly is 13-for-26 (.500) with 10 RBI during his six-game hitting streak.
• Panno posted his sixth multi-hit game of the year. He leads the team with 11 RBI.
• Angelini posted his second multi-hit game of the year and the 42nd of his career. It is the most among current Bryant players.
• Wright and Hart became the first players since Ward and Gasper to hit back-to-back home runs (New Mexico State – 2017). 
• Wright now leads the Bulldogs with three multi-RBI games on the year and has reached safely in each of his last seven games.
• Hart posted his second multi-hit game of the year and the third of his career. His home run was the first of his career.
• Owens finished with three hits for the second time this season. He now has six multi-hit games on the year.

Up Next

Bryant and Delaware continue their series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.