Denise Ipsen Photo
Denise Ipsen Photo

Palmieri impresses in first-career start, Bulldogs fall to UNCW

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Graduate student Mason Palmieri (Lincoln, R.I.) allowed just three runs on three hits over a career-high six innings but the Bryant University baseball team fell to UNC Wilmington, 4-2, on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Seahawk Classic.

Making his first-career start, Palmieri allowed three runs on two hits in the first inning but settled down to allow just one baserunner over the next five innings. He tied his career high with five strikeouts in the longest outing of his Bryant career.

Senior Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.) hit his first home run of the season and sophomore Jake Gustin (Peabody, Mass.) drove in a run for the Bulldogs.  

Game Information
UNCW 4, Bryant 2
Records:
Bryant (0-4), UNCW (3-1)
Location: Brooks Field (Wilmington, N.C.)
W|L|S: Blake Deatherage (1-0) | Mason Palmieri (0-1) | Adam Smith (1)

Coach Klosterman's Comments

"We got another great start from Mason. He started off slow but was able to manage the game and get through six innings. Thought the hitters swung the bats better today. They slowed the game down and overall, as long as we learn from our mistakes we can take a lot out of this weekend. We had the tying run on second in the ninth for the second-straight game. Our pitching will keep us in games and we'll get back to work this week to get our offense up to speed for next weekend at Georgia State."

Key Moment

  • The Seahawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a two-run home run from Ron Evans in the bottom of the first.     

How it Happened

  • UNCW plated its first run of the game on a wild pitch and Evans followed with a two-run home run to left field to make it 3-0.
  • Cruz got the Bulldogs on the board with a long home run over the center field fence to start the fifth. Junior Shane Kelly (Sewell, N.J.) followed with a double but was stranded.
  • The Seahawks extended their lead in the eighth. An infield single, a stolen base and a two-out single to left center made it 4-1.
  • Bryant put together a rally in the 9th, plating a run with three-straight singles. Gustin's single to right field plated classmate Matt Woods (Warwick, R.I.). The Bulldogs, however, stranded the tying runs on second and third.

Stats

  • Bryant did not commit an error.
  • Palmieri allowed three runs on three hits, walked one and struck out five.
  • Sophomore John MacDonald (Stamford, Conn.) allowed one run on two hits and struck out three over two innings of relief.   

Notes and Notables

  • Palmieri's outing was the longest of his career. He also tied his career high in strikeouts.
  • Cruz now has 11 career home runs.
  • Kelly's double was his second of the weekend. He finished the weekend 4-for-15 with two doubles.
  • Bryant finished the week 9-for-12 in stolen bases.
  • Bryant's pitching staff posted a .230 opposing batting average, struck out 28 and walked just 11. 
  • Bryant committed just three errors on the weekend, posting a .976 fielding percentage. 

Up Next

The Bulldogs head to Atlanta next weekend for a three-game series at Georgia State. The series opens Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.