Theetge strikes out a career-high nine batters in 11-1 win over LIU

BROOKLYN – Junior Steve Theetge (Syracuse, N.Y.) struck out a career-high nine over seven innings as the Bryant University baseball team defeated LIU Brooklyn, 11-1, in the first game of a Northeast Conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon.

Theetge allowed just one run on five hits and walked three to go along with his nine strikeouts. He struck out two batters in each of the first three innings and has now registered three-straight quality starts.

The Black and Gold backed up Theetge by scoring at least nine runs for the third-straight game, with all nine starters recording at least one hit. Freshman Shane Kelly (Sewell, N.J.) led the barrage with a career-high four hits and three RBI. Sophomore James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) added two hits, three RBI and two runs scored, while classmate Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) reached base four times with a single and three walks and scored three runs.

Game Information

Bryant 11, LIU Brooklyn 1

Records: Bryant (12-13, 4-3 NEC), LIU Brooklyn (14-11, 5-2 NEC)

Location: LIU Field (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

W|L|S: Steve Theetge (2-6) | Patrick Clyne (3-3)

Key Moment

• Bryant opened the game up in the second with four-straight run-scoring singles. The four-consecutive hits turned a 0-0 game into a 4-0 Bulldog lead.

How it happened

• Bryant opened the scoring with four runs in the top of the second. Wright singled and freshman Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) was hit by a pitch to put two on with one out. The next four hitters all delivered run-scoring singles. Redshirt freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) and Ciliento singled to right to drive in the first two and Kelly and senior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) added singles to center to make it 4-0.
• The Bulldogs pushed their lead to 5-0 with a run in the fourth. With the bases loaded, sophomore Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.) lifted a fly ball to right field and Ciliento tagged and scored ahead of the throw.
• LIU got a run back in the fourth inning. Back-to-back walks opened the inning but Theetge retired the next two batters. Edward Modica, however, ripped one off the high wall in left field to score a run. Modica tried to take second on the play but was caught between first and second to end the inning.
• Junior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) quickly got the run back as he led off the fifth with a line drive that cleared the high wall in left for a home run.
• Bryant extended the lead to 9-1 with a three-run seventh. Ciliento was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Kelly followed with a two-run double off the left field fence.
• The Bulldogs closed their scoring with two runs in the ninth. Ward scored one with a sac fly to right and Ciliento drove in his third run with an infield ground ball.    

Stats

• Bryant out-hit LIU Brooklyn, 13-5, in the game.
• Bryant did not commit an error in the game.
• Theetge allowed one run on five hits, walked three and struck out nine.
• Senior Ross Weiner (Woodbridge, Conn.) pitched the final two innings, allowing just one hit.
• Ward posted just one hit but drove in two and scored twice.
• Ciliento finished 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored.
• Kelly went 4-for-5 with a double and three RBI.
• Gasper singled, walked twice and was hit by a pitch.
• Angelini hit his second home run of the season.
• Wright went 1-for-2 with three walks and scored three times.
• Owens doubled and scored twice.
• Patrick Clyne, the NEC leader in strikeouts, allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out four.
• Anthony Warnecke posted three hits and Modica chipped in with two hits for LIU.

Game Notes

• The Bulldogs are now 29-11 all-time against LIU Brooklyn.
• Theetge won his second-straight game and posted his third-straight quality start.
• He is now 19-11 in his career and 15-1 in 17 career regular-season NEC games.
• Weiner has posted a scoreless outing in five of his six appearances.
• Ward extended his hitting streak to 11 games and his on-base streak to 21 games. Both are the longest of his career.
• Angelini's home run was his second of the year and the 11th of his career. It was his first home run since Feb. 24 at Auburn.
• Angelini reached safely for the 11th-straight game.
• Kelly posted a career-high four hits, including his sixth double of the year. He drove in three runs for the second time.
• Wright set a career-high with three runs scored.  
• Ciliento posted his sixth two-hit game of the year and his 10th multi-hit game of the year. He drove in three runs for the first time in his career.
• Cruz has now reached safely in 11-straight games.