Mattison, Ward and Wright lead Bulldogs to doubleheader sweep of LIU

BROOKLYN – Freshman Tyler Mattison (Fort Ann, N.Y.) struck out a career-high seven batters over six innings and redshirt freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) and sophomore Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) combined for six hits and four runs scored as the Bryant University baseball team completed a doubleheader sweep of LIU Brooklyn with a 7-2 victory.

Making his first-career Northeast Conference start, Mattison limited the Blackbirds to just two runs on four hits over six innings. He struck out seven, did not walk a batter and retired 15 of the last 16 batters he faced.

Offensively, Ward and Wright combined to 6-for-7 with two RBI and four runs scored. Sophomore James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) chipped in two hits and drove in multiple runs for the second-straight game.

Game Information

Bryant 7, LIU Brooklyn 2

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

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

W|L|S: Tyler Mattison (2-1) | Zach Pederson (4-2)

Coach Owens' Comments

"Tyler Mattison was really good today. We didn't walk anybody in the entire the game. We played from ahead in a seven-inning game which is important. We played error-less baseball all day long and came up with some key hits in key situations that proved to be the difference in the games."

Key Moment

• Clinging to a 3-2 lead, the Bulldogs tacked on four insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. The big hit of the inning was Ciliento's 2-run double that made it 5-2.

How it happened

• Ward helped Bryant manufacture a run in the top of the first. He singled to open the game, stole second and third and came home on an RBI ground out from senior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.).
• The Bulldogs made it 2-0 in the second. Wright led off with a single, took second on a balk and scored on a two-strike, two-out single from sophomore Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.).
• LIU Brooklyn cut into the deficit in the bottom of the second as Anthony Warneke led off with an opposite field home run.
• The next Blackbird hitter would double but Mattison shut it down from there. He retired the next 12 batters in a row before allowing a leadoff home run in the sixth. Mattison would get the next three to end his outing, retiring 15 of the final 16 he faced.
• Wright made it a 3-1 game in the fourth with a long home run to right field to lead off the fourth.
• Greg Vaughn Jr.'s leadoff home run in the sixth made it a 3-2 game.
• In the top of the seventh, freshman Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) walked and Ward doubled off the top of the right field fence to start the inning. Ciliento followed with a two-run double to left center. Wright and junior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) completed the scoring with a pair of run-scoring singles.  

Stats

• Bryant out-hit LIU Brooklyn, 12-4, in the game.
• Bryant did not commit an error in either game of the doubleheader.
• Mattison allowed two runs on four hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out seven.
• Senior Logan Lessard (Cromwell, Conn.) struck out the side in the seventh to close the door.
• Ward went 3-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored.
• Ciliento finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored.
• Wright went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
• Cruz finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.
• Zach Pederson, the NEC leader in ERA, allowed six runs on 10 hits over six-plus innings. He walked two and struck out nine. Vaughn and Warnecke both homered.

Game Notes

• The Bulldogs are now 30-11 all-time against LIU Brooklyn.
• With the doubleheader sweep, the Bulldogs have guaranteed at least of split of the weekend series. That makes it 58 of 62 NEC series that they have either won or split.
• Bryant didn't commit an error in either of the two games.
• Bryant pitchers struck out 20 and walked just three in two games on Friday.
• The Bulldogs moved to .500 for the first time this season. They are also tied for second in the NEC standings with LIU. 
• Mattison posted his second quality start in as many starts.
• He struck out a career-high seven and didn't issue a walk for the first time this season.
• Lessard now has 12 strikeouts in seven innings this season. He has struck out seven of the last nine batters he's faced.
• Ward extended his hitting streak to 12 games and his on-base streak to 22 games. Both are the longest of his career.
• Ward posted his seventh three-hit game of the year and his 12th multi-hit game of the year.
• Wright posted his first three-hit game of the year and his sixth multi-hit game of the year.
• Wright's home run was his third of the season.
• He finished the doubleheader 4-for-6 with two RBI and five runs scored.
• Ciliento registered his 11th multi-hit game of the year and his second-straight multi-RBI game. He went 4-for-9 with five RBI in the doubleheader.
• Angelini reached safely for the 12th-straight game.
• Cruz has now reached safely in 12-straight games and posted his fifth multi-hit game of the year.

Up Next

Bryant and LIU Brooklyn continue their series on Saturday. First pitch is still to be determined.