Patterson's three-hit shutout wraps up weekend sweep of CCSU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Led by a complete game three-hit shutout from senior Jack Patterson (Suffield, Conn.), the Bryant University baseball team completed a weekend sweep of Central Connecticut with a 3-0 win in game two of Sunday's doubleheader at Conaty Park.  

Patterson struck out a career-high 12 batters as he became the first Bulldog since Craig Schlitter in 2014 to throw a complete nine-inning game. He is also the first since Schlitter to throw a nine-inning shutout. Patterson was his best as the game went along, striking out eight batters over the final four innings of his complete-game performance.

Bryant scored the only runs it would need in the fifth inning. Redshirt junior Nolan Hayward (Glendale, R.I.) picked up a key two-run, pinch-hit single to make it 3-0.

Game Information

Bryant 3, Central Connecticut 0

Records: Bryant (26-16-1, 17-5), Central Connecticut (13-23, 8-13)

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

W|L|S: Jack Patterson (5-2) | Michael Delease (0-2)

Coach Owens' Comments

"We've been swinging it really well, scoring a lot of runs. We needed good pitching this weekend and all four of our starts were quality starts. Jack Patterson's start today was one of the best starts I've seen in my time here at Bryant. It's really special for Jack. That kid has worked really hard. He got close to being at this level last year but now he's a horse for us. He has four pitches and had really good swing-and-miss stuff today. I am really proud of how he competed. Mentally, he gives us an awesome, competitive effort every time out. He gives us a lot of energy."

Key Moment

• With Bryant leading 1-0, Hayward was called on to pinch hit and knocked a 1-1 pitch through the left side to score a pair of runs.

How it happened

• Bryant was held hitless for the first four innings before sophomore Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) doubled off the glove of the first baseman to open the fifth. After a walk, Wright was picked off at second but freshman Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) was hit by a pitch to put two on. Sophomore Bryan Hart (Franklin, Mass.) then hit a hard ground ball to third that Buddy Dewaine fielded but could not gain his footing, allowing all three batters to be safe. Redshirt freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) followed with a soft ground ball to the right side for an infield single to score the first run of the game. Hayward followed with a pinch-hit two-run single through the left to make it 3-0.  
• Patterson did the rest. He allowed a leadoff single in the sixth inning but went on to strikeout eight of the final 13 batters he faced to complete his masterpiece. He struck out all three batters in the eighth looking before fanning two in the ninth. The final out came on a hard one-hopper to short.

Stats

• Bryant was held to just five hits in the contest.
• Patterson allowed just three hits, walked three and struck out 12 in nine innings. He threw 117 pitches, 77 for strikes.
• Ward drove in a run.
• Hayward drove in two with his pinch-hit single.
• Junior Tyler Panno (Rivervale, N.J.), Wright and Hart had the other three Bryant hits.
• Michael Delease allowed one run on just one hit over four-plus innings for CCSU.   

Game Notes

• The Bulldogs are now 32-10 against Central Connecticut at the Division I level.
• Bryant ends the month of April with a 15-3-1 record.
• Bryant swept the series with the win and has won or tied 61 of its 65 NEC series.
• Patterson notched his first-career nine-inning complete game. He struck out a career-high 12 batters as well.
• The complete game is the third of Patterson's career.
• Patterson becomes the first Bryant pitcher to toss a nine-inning complete game since May 23, 2014. Craig Schlitter tossed a three-hit shutout against CCSU in the winner's bracket game of the NEC Tournament that day.
• Patterson's nine-inning shutout is also the first since Schlitter in 2014.
• Patterson has now struck out 39 batters over his last four starts (29 innings).
• Highlighted by Patterson's outing, Bryant's pitching staff allowed just one earned run in 32 innings this weekend (0.28 ERA).
• The pitchers allowed just 19 hits, walked 16 and struck out 35. CCSU hit just .173 against Bryant pitching.
• Ward extended his hitting streak to 29 games and his on-base streak to 39 games. Both are the longest of his career. He has reached safely in all but one game this season.
• Ward's hitting streak is the third-longest in the nation this season. It is also the third-longest active streak.
• Ward now has 80 hits on the season, the sixth-most in a single season in DI program history. He is just the sixth player to have 80+ hits in a single season and just the second freshman.
• Senior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) walked twice and has now reached safely in each of his last 21 games.
• Hayward collected his first hit since March 11 at Maryland. The two RBI are a career-high.

Up Next

Bryant returns to the diamond on Wednesday when it faces Northeastern in Boston. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.