Franklin Pierce Ends Bryant’s Season 5-2 in the NCAA Regional Championship
BRYANT BASEBALL
May 20, 2007
Franklin Pierce Ends Bryant's Season 5-2 in the NCAA Regional Championship
RINDGE, N.H. - The Bryant baseball team saw its season come to an end, as the top-seed Franklin Pierce Ravens defeated the fifth-ranked Bulldogs 5-2 in the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship Sunday afternoon at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field.
With the victory, Franklin Pierce is the champion of the Northeast Region and advances to its second straight College World Series and will open World Series play Saturday in Montgomery, Alabama.
Kevin Renaud continued his dominance against Bryant, as the left-fielder had two home runs, one in the first to left field and another in the eighth to right-center field. In the first, Scott Savastano followed Renaud's homer with one of his own, to deep left-center field off starter Luke Cowan (Atlanta, GA).
The top seed Ravens, ranked 9th nationally, added two more in the fourth as Vinny Pennell doubled home a run and then scored on a double steal with Savastano at the plate.
Bryant got on the board in ht eighth as Nick Campbell (Raynham, Mass.) continued his outstanding tournament play, when he lined a double to right-center to bring home Taylor Ferguson (Charlton, Mass.) and Jay Alexander (Simsbury, CT).
Franklin Pierce starter and the Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year Keith Renaud avenged last week's loss to Bryant as the right-hander was dominant on the hill, improving his record to 6-2. He took a no-hitter into the fourth until Mike Rocco (Tewksbury, Mass.) drilled a two-out single up the middle. He lasted seven innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out ten and throwing 119 pitches.
Cowan (3-5) took the loss for Bryant. Making his first start in 16 days, the junior allowed four runs and six hits over five innings.
Tyler Bishop got the save for the Ravens, as he got Dylan Stone (Portsmouth, RI) to ground out to end the game.
The loss marks the end of the road for Bryant's two seniors, pitcher Mike Upton (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Rocco. The only player or coach left from the 2004 World Series team, Rocco became the fifth Bulldog to reach the 200-hit plateau earlier this season.
Bryant finishes the season 35-24, a very successful season for a team no one predicted would make the NCAA Tournament. They finished second in the conference tournament, third in the regular season, and were one of the last 16 teams playing in the entire nation.
Post-game Notes:
-This was the seventh meeting between the two teams and the fourth in eight days, with the Ravens going 6-1. Franklin Pierce defeated Bryant twice to win the Northeast-10 Conference Championship last Sunday.
-Adam Vuolo (Walpole, Mass.) threw two scoreless innings Sunday, extending his postseason scoreless streak to 13.1 innings.
-Brent Almeida (Fairhaven, Mass.), Campbell and Rocco were named to the All-Tournament Team; Kevin Renaud was the Outstanding Player.
-Cowan was making his first start since May 4th
-Bryant defied its critics this season as they were picked to finish sixth in the preseason conference poll.
Linescore: Franklin Pierce 5, Bryant University 2 (May 20, 2007 at Rindge, N.H.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Franklin Pierce..... 200 020 010 - 5 9 0 (49-9) Bryant University... 000 000 020 - 2 4 1 (34-24) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Franklin Pierce - Kei. Renaud; Jenkins(8); Bishop(8). Bryant University - Cowan; Polvani(6); Vuolo(8). Win-Kei. Renaud(6-2) Loss-Cowan(3-5) T-2:23 A-243 HR FPC - Kev. Renaud 2 (10); Savastano (1).Schedule:
Thursday, May 17
Game 1: #6 Wilmington (29-18) 1 at #1 Franklin
Pierce (45-9), 4
Game 2: #5 Bryant (32-22) 4 vs.
#2 Adelphi (34-15), 5
Game 3: #4 Caldwell (24-13) 9 vs. #3 UMass Lowell
(33-18), 4
Friday, May 18
Game 4: Wilmington 1 vs. Bryant 5
(Wilmington eliminated)
Game 5: Franklin Pierce 7 vs. UMass Lowell 4
(UMass Lowell eliminated)
Game 6: Adelphi 4 vs. Caldwell 0
Saturday, May 19
Game 7: Franklin Pierce 7 vs. Adelphi 2
Game 8: Bryant 3 vs. Caldwell 2
(Caldwell eliminated)
Game 9: Bryant 10 vs. Adelphi, 0 (Adelphi eliminated)
Sunday, May 21
Game 10: Franklin Pierce 5 vs. Bryant 2
(Bryant eliminated)