Mattison leads Bulldogs to split on Saturday

Mattison leads Bulldogs to split on Saturday

NEWARK, Del. –  Freshman Tyler Mattison (Fort Ann, N.Y.) struck out six over six innings in his first-career start to lead the Bryant University baseball team to a 5-2 win over the University of Delaware in game two of Saturday's doubleheader.

Mattison allowed two runs on four hits and walked just one in the first quality start of his career. He was his best over the final three innings as he retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced to pick up his first-career win.

As Mattison settled in, the Black and Gold offense did the rest, scoring three times in the fourth before adding insurance runs in the sixth and seventh. Four players finished with multiple hits, with sophomore Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.) finished 2-for-3 with a two-run single that gave the Bulldogs the lead for good.

Game Information

Bryant 5, Delaware 2

Records: Bryant (5-10), Delaware (10-7)

Location: Bob Hannah Stadium (Newark, Del.)

W|L|S: Tyler Mattison (1-0) | Colman Villa (2-1) | Nathan Wrighter (1)

Coach Owens' Comments

"Game two was a really good come-from-behind win after things didn't go as we wanted to in game one. We had a freshman with his first-career start out on the mound and he gave up a home run early and was down 2-0 and he wound up staying out there and getting us through six innings. We are really excited about what we saw out of Tyler Mattison today. It's really important that we get that type of development from him."

Key Moments

  • Delaware had just scored to take a 2-0 lead in the third and had runners on first and second with one out. Facing the Blue Hens' best hitter, Mattison induced a ground ball up the middle that redshirt freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) fielded and turned into an inning-ending 4-3 double play.
  • With runners on second and third with two outs in the fourth, Delaware intentionally walked junior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) to get to Cruz. After taking a strike, Cruz ripped a two-run single back through the middle to give Bryant a 3-2 lead.  

How it happened

  • The Blue Hens built a 2-0 lead with single runs in the second and third off Mattison. Nick Patten made it 1-0 with a solo home run to left in the second and an RBI single from Chance DiFebbo in the second.
  • Bryant erased the deficit with three runs in the top of the fourth. Senior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) and Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) both singled and reliever Colman Vila hit junior Tyler Panno (Rivervale, N.J.) with his first pitch to load the bases. A passed ball scored the first run and Cruz came through in the clutch with a two-out, two-run single up the middle to make it 3-2.
  • The Black and Gold added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh inning. Angelini singled, moved to second on an errant throw and scored as Ward's infield single caromed into shallow right field. In the seventh, Wright and Panno whacked consecutive singles and Angelini delivered a sac fly to right to make it 5-2.   

Stats

  • Bryant outhit Delaware, 11-4.
  • The Bulldogs did not commit an error.
  • Ward finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.
  • Sophomore James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) picked up a double.
  • Wright finished 2-for-4 with two run scored.
  • Panno had two hits, a double and scored a run.
  • Angelini went 1-for-2 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk.
  • Cruz finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
  • Mattison allowed two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out six to earn his first-career win.
  • Junior Nathan Wrighter (Windsor, N.Y.) struck out two in a perfect seventh to earn his first save.
  • Vila suffered the loss, allowing one run on two hits with three walks over 1 1/3 innings of relief.

Game Notes

  • Bryant is now 6-2 all-time against Delaware.
  • The Black and Gold did not commit an error for the seventh time in 15 games.
  • Ward extended his on-base streak to a team-high 11 games. He now has six multi-hit games this year.  
  • Ward made his first-career start at second base on Saturday.
  • Ciliento extended his hitting streak to nine games with his double.
  • Wright extended his on-base streak to nine games and his hitting streak to six games with two hits. It was his fifth multi-hit game of the year.
  • Gasper had now reached base safely in nine-straight games.
  • Kelly saw his seven-game hitting streak come to a close.
  • Panno posted his seventh multi-hit game of the year. His double was his team-leading fifth of the year and his 10th extra-base hit of the year.
  • Cruz posted his first multi-hit and first multi-RBI game of the year. He has 11 multi-hit games and four multi-RBI games in his career.
  • Wrighter picked up his second career save on Saturday.

Up Next

Bryant and Delaware wrap up their series on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.