Bulldogs drop game one on Sunday, 3-2

BROOKLYN, N.Y. –  Wagner College scored three times in the bottom of the first and then held on for a 3-2 victory over the Bryant University baseball team in game one of Sunday's Northeast Conference doubleheader at MCU Park.

With the win, the Seahawks have won each of the first two games of the three-game series, becoming the first team since Sacred Heart in 2013 to win a league series against the Bulldogs.

Game Information

Bryant 2, Wagner 3

Records: Bryant (7-12, 0-2 NEC), Wagner (12-8, 2-0 NEC)

Location: MCU Park (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

W|L|S: Neil Abbatiello (3-0) | Steve Theetge (0-6) | Nick Robino (2)

Key Moment

• Wagner scored three runs on three hits in the first, with the big blow coming on a two-run double from Anthony Godino.

How it happened

• Wagner jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning. Nick Mascelli and Sean Mazzio both snuck singles into right field and Godino plated both with a two-run double to left. Freddy Sabido made it 3-0 with an RBI ground out.
• Junior Steve Theetge (Syracuse, N.Y.) settled in and kept the deficit at three runs. Wagner loaded the bases against him in the third but Theetge got a fielder's choice ground ball to third, struck out Will Johnson looking and got a fly ball to center to leave them loaded.
• Bryant cut into the deficit in the seventh, scoring twice without the benefit of a hit. Junior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) was hit by a pitch and sophomore Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.) and junior Dante Ricciardi (West Boylston, Mass.) walked to load the bases with no outs. Freshman Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) and redshirt-freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) then delivered sac flies to make it 3-2.  
• The Black and Gold put the tying run on second in the ninth but Nick Robino was able to escape the threat. Sean Mazzio made a diving grab at short on a soft liner for the second out and then fielded a ground ball to end the game.

Stats

• Bryant finished the game with just two hits.
• Theetge allowed three runs on six hits, walked four and struck out five over 6 1/3 innings.
• Redshirt junior Justin Snyder (Georgetown, Mass.) tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to finish the game.
• Ward registered a double in the fifth and also drove in a run with a sac fly.
• Angelini singled, was hit by a pitch, stole a base and scored a run.
• Cruz walked and scored.
• Ricciardi walked three times.
• Owens drove in a run with a sac fly.
• Neil Abbatiello allowed two runs on just one hit, walked four and struck out four over six-plus innings.

Game Notes

• With the loss, the Bulldogs have lost the series to Wagner. It is the first NEC series loss for Bryant since April 19-21 at Sacred Heart. The Bulldogs lost three-of-four that weekend.
• It is just the fourth series the Bulldogs have lost since playing a full NEC schedule in 2010.
• Bryant's two hits were a season low.
• Theetge suffered his first loss against NEC competition. He is now 13-1 in 15 career regular-season starts.
• Despite the loss, Theetge registered his second quality start of the year.
• Ward extended his on-base streak to a team-high 15 games. He's hit safely in each of his last five, matching his career high.
• Ciliento's hitting streak ended at 12 games but he extended his on-base streak to 13 games with a HBP.
• Gasper extended his on-base streak to 13 games.  

Up Next

Bryant and Wagner complete the three-game series later Sunday afternoon.