Bulldogs can't overcome early hole, fall to URI on Tuesday

KINGSTON, R.I. – The University of Rhode Island jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the second inning and then held on for an 8-6 victory over the Bryant University baseball team on Tuesday afternoon at Bill Beck Field.  

Bryant out-hit the Rams, 9-7, but walked 10 batters, hit two others and committed three errors. Redshirt freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) and sophomore Bryan Hart (Franklin, Mass.) each hit two-run home runs to pace the Bulldog offensive attack.

Game Information

Bryant 6, Rhode Island 8

Records: Bryant (22-16-1), Rhode Island (16-25)

Location: Bill Beck Field (Kingston, R.I.)

W|L|S: Mark Silvestri (2-1) | Ross Weiner (1-1) | Nick Johnson (6)

Coach Owens' Comments

"Sloppy, not well played by us. We walked 10, hit two others, gave up multiple other free bases and made three errors. It's really hard to win when you play like that. We battled back nice and did some decent stuff. We had a chance to tie it at the end. Some guys got out there and made some big pitches in some big spots. Will Treuel showed us some stuff today and that was important. Gaby Cruz had another good day hitting. I though a big part of the game was us not being able to turn a couple double plays early in the game and us hitting into two double plays. We were right there, even short-handed, but it didn't turn out the way we wanted."

Key Moment

• In the second, URI scored five runs with two outs capped by a bases-clearing double from Xavier Vargas, to make it 7-0.

How it happened

• URI plated two unearned runs in the bottom of the first. Bryant was unable to turn an inning-ending double play and a throwing error on the following batter allowed two runs to score.
• In the second, the Rams erupted for five two-out runs to make it 7-0. Kevin Heiss hit a 3-2 pitch into center for an RBI single and Jackson Coutts followed with an RBI double to right center. A walk then loaded the bases and Xavier Vargas cleared them with a double into the right field corner.
• Bryant matched URI with five of its own in the top of the third inning. Freshman Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) was hit by a pitch to open the inning and Hart followed with a drive to center that carried over the wall for a two-run homer. Junior Dante Ricciardi (West Boylston, Mass.) then singled and Ward followed with a long two-run home run to right field. The final run of the inning scored on a ground ball from junior Tyler Panno (Rivervale, N.J.).
• It remained 7-5 thanks to a great performance from freshman Will Treuel (Wolfeboro, N.H.). He entered with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth and proceeded to pitch out of it. Treuel struck out the first batter he faced before getting a foul pop for the third out.
• Bryant made it a one-run game in the sixth. Sophomore Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.) led off with a single, took second on a wild pitch and went to third on a single from Panno. Owens then scored him with a sac fly to left center.
• URI pushed its lead to 8-6 in the bottom of the seventh. Mike Foley walked to open the inning, took second on a wild pitch and scored as Laurence Hill hit a check-swing double inside the right field line. Junior Craig Lacey (Westfield, Mass.) ended the threat as he got a strikeout and a ground out to strand a runner at third.  

Stats

• Senior Ross Weiner (Woodbridge, Conn.) started and allowed three runs (one earned) in one-plus inning.
• Redshirt junior Justin Snyder (Georgetown, Mass.) tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed two hits and walked three.
• Treuel didn't allow a hit over 1 2/3 innings of relief. He retired five of the six batters he faced.
• Redshirt freshman Nash Eppard (Essex, Conn.) walked two, struck out two and allowed a run without surrendering a hit in an inning of relief.
• Lacey was not charged with a run as he got three outs in the seventh.
• Cruz went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Hart hit a two-run home run and also drew a walk.
• Ricciardi had a hit, a walk and a run scored.
• Sophomore Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) had a hit and a walk.
• Ward hit a two-run home run and finished 2-for-5
• URI's Mark Silvestri pitched three scoreless and hitless innings of relief to earn the win for URI.

Game Notes

• The Bulldogs are now 9-6 against URI at the Division I level.
• Tuesday marked Bryant's first midweek loss of the season.
• Bryant falls to 11-3-1 in the month of April.
• Ward extended his hitting streak to 25 games and his on-base streak to 35 games. Both are the longest of his career. He has reached safely in all but one game this season.
• Ward's hitting streak is tied for the sixth-longest in the nation this season. It is the fourth longest active streak.
• Ward is now tied for second in the NEC with eight home runs. He also ties the Bryant DI freshman record set by Jimmy Titus (Stafford, Conn.) last season.
• Ward now has 23 multi-hit games on the year.
• Ward now has 74 hits on the season, tying him with Jeff Vigurs for the seventh-most in a single season in DI program history.
• Senior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) has now reached safely in each of last 17.
• Cruz posted multiple hits for the 11th time this season.
• Wright extended his on-base streak to 19 games.
• Hart's home run was his second of the season and his first since March 16 at Delaware.
• The Bulldogs played Tuesday's game without everyday center fielder Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) and everyday right fielder James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.).

Up Next

Bryant will travel to Brighton, Massachusetts, on Wednesday afternoon to face Boston College. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.