Baseball completes sweep of Wagner, 3-2

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Freshman John MacDonald (Stamford, Conn.) delivered six solid innings and classmate Brian Nicolas (Langhorne, Pa.) broke a 2-2 tie with a two-out RBI single in the sixth as the Bryant University baseball team completed a three-game sweep of Wagner College, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

The Bulldogs now lead the country with 21 road victories and have won 10-straight on the road for the first time since the 2014 season. All three of Bryant's wins came by two runs or less this weekend.

Making his first-career Northeast Conference start, MacDonald worked through five walks to deliver six innings of two-run ball. He allowed five hits and struck out three. The trio of sophomore Will Treuel (Wolfeboro, N.H.), senior Nathan Wrighter (Windsor, N.Y.) and junior Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) combined to keep the Seahawks scoreless over the final three innings. Wright's save was his 11th of the season, the second-most in DI program history.

On offense, redshirt sophomore Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) went 2-for-4, including a game-tying solo home run in the fifth. Sophomore Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) had three hits and scored the game-winning run on Nicolas' two-out single in the sixth.

Game Information
Bryant 3, Wagner 2
Records: Bryant (31-13, 13-2 NEC), Wagner (15-24, 8-10 NEC)
Location: Richmond County Bank Ballpark (Staten Island, N.Y.)
W|L|S: John MacDonald (2-2) | McCae Allen | Chris Wright (11)

Coach Owens' Comments

"JMac toughed out a good start and Will, Nate and Chris allowed no runs in a one-run game. Sam and Wardo had good at-bats, with Ryan hitting the home run that was the momentum changer. Close, tough games all weekend that we found a way to win."

Key Moments

• Ward tied the game with his 10th home run of the year in the fifth before Nicolas delivered a clutch two-out RBI single in the sixth.
• In the seventh, senior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) threw out Joe Silvestrone at the plate trying to score on a single. Wagner would eventually load the bases in the inning but Wrighter induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.  

How it Happened

• Bryant and Wagner traded runs in the first inning on Sunday. Ward opened the game with a double, went to third on a ground out and scored on a sac fly.
• In the bottom of the inning, two walks and a single loaded the bases for the Seahawks and a fielder's choice tied the game.
• Wagner took the lead in the third inning as Tyler Sanfillippo reached with two outs and scored on consecutive wild pitches.
• Ward tied the game two innings later as he hit a laser through the wind and over the right field wall.
• Owens then led off the sixth with a double, went to third on a sac bunt and scored as Nicolas knocked a two-out single to right.
• The bullpen did the rest as Treuel stranded runners at the corners in the sixth, Wrighter induced an inning-ending double play in the seventh and Wright recorded the final four outs for his second save of the weekend.

Stats

• Bryant outhit Wagner, 9-7.
• The Bulldogs turned two double plays in the game.
• MacDonald allowed two runs on five hits, walked five and struck out three over six innings.
• Treuel walked two and allowed two hits over 0.2 innings.
• Wrighter tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
• Wright recorded the final four outs.
• Ward went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored.
• Redshirt sophomore Jimmy Titus (Stafford, Conn.) went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
• Owens finished 3-for-4 with a run scored.
• Nicolas was 1-for-3 with the game-winning RBI.

Notes and Notables

• Bryant is 32-13 all-time against Wagner.
• Bryant has now hit 70 home runs on the year.
• Bryant has now won or tied 68 of their 72 NEC series.
• Bryant has now won 30 or more games in 11 of the last 13 seasons.
• The Bulldogs have swept four-straight weekend series. It is the first time since 2013 they have accomplished that feat.
• Bryant leads the country in road wins, posting a 21-8 record. The Bulldogs also have the nation's longest road winning streak at 10 games.
• Ward now has 34 hits over his last 16 games. He's hit safely in all 16 of those contests.
• Ward now joins Titus and junior James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) with 10 home runs. It is the second time in program history the Bulldogs have featured three players with 10+ home runs.
• MacDonald matched his career high in innings pitched with six.
• Wright earned his 11th save of the year.
• Wright's 11 saves are the second-most in DI program history.
• Angelini has now scored 40+ runs in all four seasons at Bryant. He is the first player in program history to accomplish that feat.  

Up Next

Bryant begins an eight-game homestand on Tuesday when it welcomes Quinnipiac to Conaty Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.