Bulldogs out-slug Quinnipiac on Wednesday, 9-8

TEANECK, N.J. – Senior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.), junior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) and sophomore James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) combined for nine hits, five RBI and seven runs scored as the Bryant University baseball team earned a hard-fought 9-8 victory over Quinnipiac on Wednesday afternoon at Conaty Park.

Gasper posted his third four-hit game of the year, Angelini had three hits, three RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases, while Ciliento homered and scored twice. Both Gasper and Angelini finished a home run shy of the cycle.

Bryant used eight pitchers in the contest, with five of them recording scoreless outings. Junior Craig Lacey (Westfield, Mass.) tossed two scoreless, senior Ross Weiner (Woodbridge, Conn.) posted a huge strikeout to end the eighth and junior Nathan Wrighter (Windsor, N.Y.) earned his seventh save with a scoreless ninth.

Game Information

Bryant 9, Quinnipiac 8

Records: Bryant (19-14-1), Quinnipiac (16-19)

Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)

W|L|S: Ross Weiner (1-0) | Mike Davis (1-1) | Nathan Wrighter (7)

Coach Owens' Comments

"It was a tough midweek game against a really good hitting team. We used a bunch of our staff to piece together the game and we made some big pitches in key spots. It was a great day offensively from Mickey, Cilly and Ang, with some solid contributions from the bottom as well. We will rest up tomorrow and get ready for the weekend series."

Key Moments

• Moments after Quinnipiac tied the game in the top of the eighth, Weiner was summoned with two on and two outs. He struck out Kyle Horton swinging to strand runners on second and third.
• In the bottom of the eighth, reliever Mike Davis fielded a comebacker and fired to second to start a double play. Shortstop Ian Ostberg dropped the throw, however, and then kicked it further away, allowing Ciliento to score the winning run.  

How it happened

• Bryant jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on back-to-back two-out doubles from Gasper and Angelini.
• Quinnpiac responded with four runs in the top of the second. Julius Saporito and Kevin Huscher provided RBI singles and Andre Marrero capped the inning with a two-run double.
• Bryant used its own big inning in the third to regain the lead, scoring four runs on four hits. Senior Malik Daley (Northborough, Mass.) opened the inning with a leadoff single and Ciliento made it a one-run game with a two-run home run to right field. Gasper followed with a triple to right center and Angelini tied the game with a single to right. Angelini then stole second and third and scored on a sac fly from sophomore Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.).
• Quinnipiac regained the lead in the fifth on a two-run home run to left from Ben Gibson.
• It didn't last long as Gasper and Angelini teamed up again in the bottom of the fifth to give the Black and Gold the lead back. Gasper singled to start the inning and Angelini scored him with a triple to right center. Angelini then scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-6.
• Bryant extended its lead with a run in the seventh. Wright and sophomore Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.) singled to open the inning and freshman Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) scored Wright with a ground out.
• The Bobcats were able to tie the game with two unearned runs in the eighth. Colton Bender and Ostberg both singled and Marrero's ground ball with two outs was misplayed, allowing a run to score. Brian Moskey followed with a game-tying single to center. Weiner then entered and struck out Horton to end the inning.
• In the bottom of the eighth, Davis surrendered a one-out single to Ciliento and then walked Gasper to put two on. He then field a comebacker from Angelini and fired to second to start an inning-ending double play. The throw was dropped, however, and Ciliento raced home to break the tie.
• Wrighter then induced a game-ending 6-4-3 double play to close the door in the ninth.

Stats

• Bryant out-hit Quinnipiac, 15-13.
• All nine starters collected at least one hit for the Bulldogs.
• Ciliento finished 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
• Gasper went 4-for-4 and reached safely five times with two singles, a double, a triple and three runs scored.
• Angelini had a double, triple, three RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases.
• Wright had a hit, a run and an RBI.
• Freshman Matthew Stansky (Douglas, Mass.) started and allowed four runs on six hits over 1 1/3 innings.
• Senior Logan Lessard (Cromwell, Conn.) tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
• Sophomore Jack Ipsen (Eatontown, N.J.) surrendered two runs on two hits over 1 1/3 innings.
• Redshirt junior Justin Snyder (Georgetown, Mass.) struck out two to close out the fifth.
• Lacey pitched the sixth and seventh without surrendering a hit or a run.
• Redshirt freshman Nash Eppard (Essex, Conn.) pitched the eighth, surrendering two unearned runs.
• Weiner struck out the only batter he faced in the eighth.
• Wrighter worked a scoreless ninth.
• Gibson finished with three hits, two RBI and two runs scored for Quinnipiac.

Game Notes

• The Bulldogs are now 17-1 all-time against Quinnipiac.
• Bryant has now won five-straight games for the first time this season.
• The Black and Gold also improved to 3-0-1 in midweek games this season.  
• The Bulldogs have scored 87 runs in their last seven games (12.4 per game).
• Bryant has scored 9+ runs in nine of its last 12 games.
• Wrighter's seven saves are a career high and are the most in the NEC this year.
• Wrighter has now appeared in each of Bryant's last three games, posting saves in all three contests.
• Redshirt frehman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) extended his hitting streak to 20 games and his on-base streak to 30 games. Both are the longest of his career. He has reached safely in all but one game this season.
• Wright has now driven in a run in nine-straight games. He has driven in 16 runs in that span.
• Wright has hit safely in 12 straight (career high) and reached safely in 14 straight.
• Gasper posted his third four-hit game of the season and the fourth of his career. He has 42 multi-hit games in his career.
• Gasper hit his first triple of the season and the third of his career.
• Gasper tied his season-high with three runs scored. He also became the 11th player in DI program history to score 100+ runs in a career.
• Angelini posted his third triple of the year and the ninth of his career.
• Angelini moved into sole possession of fourth place in DI program history with 42 career stolen bases.
• Angelini posted his first three-hit game of the year and the 48 multi-hit game of his career.
• Weiner earned his first win of the year and his first win since March 5, 2017 at Liberty.
• Lacey has now pitched 2+ innings in seven of his 11 appearances this year.  

Up Next

Bryant welcomes Northeast Conference rival Sacred Heart to Conaty Park this weekend. The Bulldogs and Pioneers will meet four times, beginning on Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.