Ward, Kelly pace 15-4 victory on Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Redshirt sophomore Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) had three RBI and three runs scored and sophomore Shane Kelly (Sewell, N.J.) homered and scored four times to lead the Bryant University baseball team to a 15-4 victory over Hartford on Saturday afternoon at Conaty Park.

With the win, the Bulldogs clinched a series victory over the Hawks. Bryant has now won all three meetings between the two schools this season.

On Saturday, Bryant scored in each of the first six innings. Ward kept his hot streak going as he went 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored. Junior Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) posted three hits and two RBI and freshman Brian Nicolas (Langhorne, Pa.) and senior Tyler Panno (Rivervale, N.J.) each had two hits and two RBI. Kelly went just 1-for-4 but finished with four runs scored.

The offense was more than enough for sophomore Tyler Mattison (Fort Ann, N.Y.) as he earned his fifth win of the year with six innings of three-run ball. He allowed seven hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out six.

Game Information
Bryant 15, Hartford 4
Records: Bryant (23-11), Hartford (12-18)
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Tyler Mattison (5-1) | Billy DeVito (2-2)

Coach Owens' Comments

"We had a really good team offensive day where we scored in six-straight innings. Tyler Mattison gave us a good start. He minimized and pitched through the sixth. Matt Stansky did a nice job over the last two innings. I'm pleased with how they are going about their business. We've been good at putting together really tough at-bats throughout the lineup and I hope that is the staple of our team for the rest of the year."

Key Moment

• Ward and Wright both clubbed two-run doubles as the Bulldogs broke a 1-1 tie with a five-run second inning.   

How it Happened

• Bryant got on the board first as Kelly hammered a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall for a home run.
• The Hawks tied the game in the top of the second thanks to a double, a passed ball and a sac fly.
• Bryant then plated five runs in the bottom of the second to break open the game. Panno broke the tie with a line drive single up the middle and Ward followed with a two-run double over the left fielder's head to make it 4-1. Two batters later, Wright ripped a two-run double off the right field wall.
• Panno made it 7-1 with an RBI ground out in the bottom of the third.
• In the fourth, junior James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) plated a run with a single through the right side and Nicolas delivered a two-run single up the middle to make it 10-2.
• Ward then led off the fifth with a solo home run to right field.
• Bryant's final runs came in the bottom of the sixth and were all unearned. With the bases loaded, Kelly's fly ball to right was dropped, allowing all three runs to score. Kelly would later come around to score on a bases-loaded hit by pitch.

Stats

• Mattison allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out six.
• Junior Jack Ipsen (Eatontown, N.J.) allowed a run over one inning of relief.
• Sophomore Matthew Stansky (Douglas, Mass.) closed out the game with two scoreless innings of relief.
• Ward went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, three RBI and three runs scored.
• Kelly went 1-for-4 with a home run and four runs scored.
• Wright finished 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI.
• Ciliento went 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
• Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) went 1-for-1 with two walks, a hit by pitch and two runs scored.
• Nicolas finished 2-for-4 with two RBI.
• Panno went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Notes and Notables

• Bryant is now 9-3 all-time against Hartford. The Bulldogs have won all three meetings this year.
• Ward now has 15 hits over his last six games.
• Ward's home run was his fifth of the year and the 15th of his career. He's homered in each of the two games this weekend and has seven extra-base hits in his last six.
• Senior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) is now third in DI program history with 164 runs scored. He needs just eight more runs scored to tie the DI program record. Angelini ranks 6th in program history.
• Angelini stole his 50th career base, becoming just the third in DI program history to reach that mark.
• Kelly's home run was his fifth of the year.
• Kelly also scored a career-high four runs.
• Wright hit his 10th double of the year, which matches his career high from last season.
• Nicolas posted his second multi-hit game of the week and drove in multiple runs for the first time in his career.
• Panno posted multiple hits for the fourth time this year and multiple RBIs for the 5th time.
• Mattison has now worked at least six innings in each of his last three starts. He's allowed three runs or less in all three starts.
• Mattison has walked two and struck out 15 in 19 innings.
• Stansky recorded his longest outing of the year on Saturday.

Up Next

Bryant and Hartford wrap up their weekend series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.