Bryant wins series opener with FDU, 19-6

TEANECK, N.J. – Redshirt freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) hit a pair of three-run home runs and seven different players finished with multiple hits as the Bryant University baseball team opened up its Northeast Conference series with Fairleigh Dickinson with a 19-6 victory on Friday afternoon.  

Bryant's offensive explosion was spear-headed by Ward, sophomore James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.), freshman Shane Kelly (Sewell, N.J.) and junior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.). Ward finished with four hits, six RBI and four runs scored, Ciliento added three hits and two runs scored, Kelly homered for the second-straight game and drove in three and Angelini hit his third home run of the year and finished with three RBI and three runs scored.

Junior Steve Theetge (Syracuse, N.Y.) took advantage of the offensive outburst as he earned the 20th victory of his career with seven solid innings. He struck out six over seven innings to become just the fifth pitcher in DI program history to win 20 games.    

Game Information

Bryant 19, Fairleigh Dickinson 6

Records: Bryant (15-14-1, 7-4 NEC), Fairleigh Dickinson (8-17, 0-7 NEC)

Location: Naimoli Family Baseball Complex (Teaneck, N.J.)

W|L|S: Steve Theetge (3-6) | Trent Valentine (1-4)

Coach Owens' Comments

"We got a good start from Steve. We scored early and expanded the lead which is important on a small field. Nick Angelini and Ryan Ward had bit hits, along with James Ciliento and Shane Kelly. We have seven guys with multiple hit games. It was nice to get Will and Jack an opportunity to pitch. Good start, hopefully it carries us through the weekend."

Key Moments

• With the Bulldogs holding a 3-1 lead in the third, Angelini opened things up with a three-run home run to right center.  

How it happened

• Bryant opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the first. Ward opened the game with a single through the right side and came around to score on a two-out single from Kelly. Kelly then came home on an infield error to make it 2-0.
• FDU cut into the deficit with a run in the second. Oliver Tavares doubled to start the inning and came around to score on an RBI single from Steven Yelin.
• In the third, the Bulldogs used some well-placed hits to score four runs. Ciliento opened the inning with a bloop down the right field line that eluded a diving fielder and resulted in a double. He eventually came around to score on a single from senior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.). Three batters later, Angelini lifted a fly ball over the fence in right center for a three-run home run.
• Sophomore Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) extended Bryant's lead in the fourth as he scored two with a two-strike, two-out double to left center.
• After FDU scored an unearned run in the fourth, Ward made it 11-2 with a three-run home run to center field in the top of the fifth.
• Jason Fatzinger made it 11-3 with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth.
• In the top of the sixth, back-to-back walks put two on and sophomore Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.) delivered an RBI single through the left side.
• In the seventh, Ward beat out an infield single and came around to score on a two-out single from Kelly.
• FDU added three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Back-to-back two-out walks loaded the bases and Tavares followed with a two-run double into the right field corner. An infield error allowed the third run to score.
• Bryant put the game away with three home runs in the top of the eighth. Cruz drove in a run with a single and Ward hit his second three-run home run of the game two batters later. Gasper and Kelly then hit back-to-back home runs to center field to cap the inning.  

Stats

• Bryant outhit FDU, 22-11.
• Theetge earned his third-straight win with seven solid innings. He allowed six runs (four earned) on nine hits in seven innings. Theetge walked three and struck out six.
• Freshman Will Treuel (Wolfeboro, N.H.) struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning.
• Redshirt sophomore Jack Owens (Scituate, R.I.) struck out two in a perfect ninth.  
• Ward finished 4-for-6 with two home runs, six RBI and four runs scored.
• Ciliento went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and a stolen base.
• Gasper finished 3-for-6 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.
• Kelly went 4-for-6 with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base.
• Wright posted a pair of hits, including a double and drove in two.
• Angelini went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored and three walks.
• Cruz had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored.
• Tavares led FDU with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored.

Game Notes

• The Bulldogs are now 32-4 all-time against FDU.
• Bryant's 22 hits are a season-high. It is the second time this season Bryant has recorded 20+ hits.
• Theetge notched his third-straight start of at least seven innings.
• Theetge also became the just the fifth pitcher in DI program history to win 20 games. He's now 20-11 in his career and 16-1 against NEC opponents.
• Ward extended his hitting streak to 16 games and his on-base streak to 26 games. Both are the longest of his career.
• Ward tied his career-high with his third four-hit game. He now has 16 multi-hit games this year.
• Ward became the third different Bulldog to hit two home runs in a game this season (Panno, Ciliento). It is the second time in his career he has homered twice in a game. Ward went deep twice in the second game of the 2017 season.
• Ward also set career-highs in RBI (6) and runs scored (4).
• Ciliento recorded his sixth three-hit game and his 14th multi-hit game of the year. He now has multiple hits in five of his last six games.
• Kelly matched his career-high with his second-career four-hit game. He now has eight multi-hit games.
• Kelly also homered for the second-straight game and has three on the year. He set a career-high with three runs scored, while his three RBI marked his fifth multi-RBI game.
• Gasper posted his second three-hit game of the year and his 39th career multi-hit game.
• Gasper's home run was his second of the year and the 11th of his career.
• Wright posted multiple hits for the ninth time this year and the fourth time in five games.
• Wright has now doubled in each of his last three games.
• Wright has hit safely in eight straight and reached safely in 10 straight.
• Angelini collected multiple hits for the sixth time this year and the 46th time in his career.
• Angelini has now reached safely in 16-straight games.
• Angelini hit his third home run of the year and now has 12 in his career.
• He also stole two bases to give him a team-leading 11 on the year. He has 39 in his career.
• Cruz posted his seventh multi-hit game of the year and his fourth multi-RBI game of the year.  

Up Next

Bryant and Fairleigh Dickinson continue their series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.