Posted: Apr 23, 2010

VIGURS SETS SCHOOL DOUBLES RECORD IN BASEBALL'S 8-3 WIN FRIDAY

April 23, 2010

SENIOR JEFF VIGURS SETS CAREER DOUBLES RECORD AS BRYANT BASEBALL DEFEATS FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 8-3 FRIDAY

College Baseball @ Smithfield, R.I. – Bryant 8, Fairleigh Dickinson 3 - final

Senior Jeff Vigurs (South Windsor, Conn.) belted his 55th career double Friday against Fairleigh Dickinson to set a new school career doubles record in Bryant's 8-3 win (www.dspics.com)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University senior Jeff Vigurs (South Windsor, Conn.) lined a two-run double in the first inning, setting the school’s all-time career doubles record and helping the Bulldogs earn an 8-3 victory over visiting Fairleigh Dickinson Friday afternoon in Northeast Conference action at the Bryant Baseball Complex.

With the win, Bryant improves to 16-18 (8-5 NEC) on the year while Fairleigh Dickinson drops to 9-23 (4-9 NEC).

After the Knights took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Bryant stormed right back, scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 lead and never trailed again. The first four Bryant batters reached safely before the Knights were able to record an out.

Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.) led off with a hard single to center against FDU starter Michael Strachman. Jordan English (Windsor Locks, Conn.) followed with single to put two runners on and setting the stage for the historic at-bat by Vigurs.

Vigurs, who tied former standout Scott Yankee’s career mark of 54 last week against Mount St. Mary’s, belted the 55th double of his career to the warning track in left center, clearing the bases to score both Brown and the speedy English all the way from first.

Nick Campbell (Raynham, Mass.), looking to move Vigurs into scoring position, reached safely with a bunt down the third baseline. One batter later, Vigurs would trot home thanks to a sacrifice fly from Dylan Stone (Portsmouth, R.I.). For Campbell, it would be career hit number 298 as the school’s all-time career hits leader looks to become the first player in school history to record 300 hits. He would get hit number 299 later in the fourth inning, but was denied the milestone hit in the seventh after reaching on an error on a ball hit to the shortstop.

English went 3-for-4 on the day at the plate, his first three-hit game this season as the junior singled in the second inning and doubled later to left in the fourth.

The two RBIs Friday by Vigurs gives him 160 for his career, just 22 behind the school record of 182 held by Jason Eldridge. The double also extended his season-best hit streak to nine games.

Senior Brent Almeida (Fairhaven, Mass.) picked up his second win of the season allowing three runs on nine hits through 7 1/3 innings of work. Mark Andrews (Hillsborough, N.J.) picked up his sixth save of the season, getting the Bulldogs out of a bases loaded jam with just one out in the eighth. With just one pitch to pinch hitter Ben Mersky, the junior lefty got Mersky to ground into an inning-ending double play. It was the 16th career save for Andrews, tying him with teammate Eric Polvani (Wallingford, Conn.) for third all-time in school history.

Zakary Cianciolo (Prospect, Conn.) and Jamie Skagerlind (Holden, Mass.) each had two hits in the game.

Bryant and Fairleigh Dickinson will continue the series Saturday with a doubleheader starting at noon and close out the weekend with a single game Sunday at 1 pm. Bryant will formerly introduce the All-Decade Team on Saturday.