Mattison dominates, Bulldogs win game one of DH, 16-0

TEANECK, N.J. – Redshirt freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) homered to lead off the game and finished with four RBI as the Bryant University baseball team defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, 16-0, in the first game of Saturday's Northeast Conference doubleheader.   

A day after collecting four hits and six RBI, Ward added four more hits and drove in four more runs to lead an offense that scored 15+ runs for the second-straight game. Sophomore Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) added three hits and three RBI, classmate Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.) had three hits, two RBI and three runs scored and freshman Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) hit his first-career home run.

Freshman Tyler Mattison (Fort Ann, N.Y.) did the rest as he struck out five over six scoreless innings. He scattered three hits and didn't walk a batter for the second-straight start. Mattison retired the first nine batters he faced and then closed his outing by striking out four of the final six batters.

Game Information

Bryant 16, Fairleigh Dickinson 0

Records: Bryant (16-14-1, 8-4 NEC), Fairleigh Dickinson (8-18, 0-8 NEC)

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

W|L|S: Tyler Mattison (3-1) | Evan Raiburn (1-3)

Coach Owens' Comments

"The offense was really good again. Tyler Mattison had good command of his fastball and pitched off of it. Six really good innings for us and we were able to get some guys into the game that haven't played. They work hard in practice and its good to reward that effort.

Sam's first home run was pretty cool. He got into one on the pull side today and I am happy that he can stop trying to do that now."

Key Moment

• Leading 6-0, the Bulldogs put the game away with eight runs on six hits in the top of the fourth inning to put the game out of reach.  

How it happened

• Ward set the tone two pitches into the game as he launched his seventh home run of the year over the right field wall to leadoff the game. The Bulldogs would add a second run in the inning as Wright scored sophomore James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) with a two-out double down the left field line.
• Bryant extended its lead with four runs in the top of the second. Back-to-back singles from junior Tyler Panno (Rivervale, N.J.) and Cruz opened the inning and Ward scored both with a single up the middle. A fielding error brought home the third run and Wright's RBI single up the middle capped the inning.
• In the fourth, Bryant sent 13 men to the plate and scored eight runs to put the game away. A single, walk and a hit batter loaded the bases and Wright and junior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) followed with run-scoring singles. After a hit batter brought home a third run, Cruz scored two with a single to left center. Owens put the finishing touches on the inning as he hit the very next pitch over the left field wall for a three-run homer.
• Bryant completed its scoring with an RBI double from Ward in the fifth and a solo home run from Gasper in the sixth.

Stats

• Bryant outhit FDU, 19-4.
• The Bulldogs did not commit an error.
• Bryant collected six extra-base hits.
• Mattison scattered three hits and struck out five over six scoreless innings.
• Freshman Tyler Schoff (Lee Center, N.Y.) made his collegiate debut and pitched a scoreless seventh. He struck out one.
• Ward finished 4-for-6 with a double, a home run, four RBI and a run scored.
• Ciliento collected just one hit but scored three times.
• Gasper had two hits, a home run and three runs scored.
• Cruz went 3-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored.
• Owens finished 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored.

Game Notes

• The Bulldogs are now 33-4 all-time against FDU.
• Bryant finished with 16+ runs for the second-straight game and the third time in four games.
• Bryant posted its first shutout of the 2018 season.
• Mattison notched the first scoreless start of his career. He also picked up his third quality start in as many outings.
• Mattison has now struck out 12 without allowing a walk over his last two starts.
• Ward extended his hitting streak to 17 games and his on-base streak to 27 games. Both are the longest of his career.
• Ward tied his career-high with his second-straight four-hit game (fourth of the year). He now has 17 multi-hit games this year.
• Ward's home run was his third of the weekend and his team-leading seventh of the year.
• He drove in multiple runs for the 9th time this year.
• Ciliento scored three runs in a game for the fourth time this year.
• Gasper posted his 40th career multi-hit game.
• Gasper's home run was his third of the year and the 12th of his career. He has now homered in both games of the series.  
• Wright posted multiple hits for the 10th time this year and the fifth time in six games.
• Wright has now doubled in each of his last four games.
• Wright's three RBI are a season high. He has multiple RBIs in 5-of-6.
• Wright has hit safely in nine straight (tied career high) and reached safely in 11 straight.
• Angelini has now reached safely in 17-straight games.
• Cruz posted his eighth multi-hit game of the year and his fifth multi-RBI game of the year.  
• Cruz tied career-highs for hits and runs scored.

Up Next

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