Bulldogs take finale at CCSU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Jordan English (Windsor Locks, Conn.) went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in three runs while junior David Soltis (Plainville, Conn.) added two RBIs as the Bryant University baseball team downed Northeast Conference rival Central Connecticut, 9-3, to salvage a win in the finale of a four-game set in New Britain, Conn.

Bryant (6-10, 1-3 NEC) racked up 11 hits in the contest while starter John Michael Ryan (Worcester, Mass.) enjoyed a solid performance on the mound, allowing three earned runs in 5.0 innings to pick up the win. Junior Dan Walsh (Burlington, Mass.) put forth a strong effort out of the bullpen, working 3.0 innings of hitless play for his first save of the season.       

Central Connecticut (5-6-1, 3-1 NEC) recorded seven hits in the game while starter Tom Coughlin was touched for five earned runs in 3.0 innings for the loss.

Bryant started off strong with a run in the first as English led off the game with a double to left center. After advancing to third on a subsequent ground out, English crossed the plate on an RBI single by Soltis for the 1-0 advantage.

The Blue Devils answered right away with a tying run in the bottom half of the first but the visitors kept the bats alive in the top of the second, scoring a pair to go up by two. With one out, Tim Norton (Barnstable, Mass.) stated off with a double and was then driven home on an RBI triple from Dan Muscatello (Hopkinton, Mass.), who later scored on a sacrifice fly by English to put the Bulldogs on top, 3-1.

The visitors continued to score early and often, adding one run in the third on an RBI single by Mike DelPonte (Tewksbury, Mass.) and then three more in the fourth for the 7-1 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Muscatello led off with a single through the right side and then stole second, followed by Joseph Carcone (New Hartford, N.Y.) who reached first on a hit by pitch. With two on and no outs, English racked up two more RBIs on a double down the left field line, scoring both Muscatello and Carcone. English later scored on a sacrifice fly by Solits to complete the top of the frame.

Central Connecticut answered with two more in the bottom half of the fourth on RBIs from J.P. Sportman and Danny Hickey, but that would complete the scoring for the home side on the day as the Bulldog pitching staff limited the Blue Devils to just one hit in the final five innings.

Bryant would go on to add two runs on an RBI single by Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.) in the sixth and then an unearned tally in the seventh for the 9-3 victory ensure a win in the four-game set.

The Black and Gold return to the diamond on Wednesday, March 23 when they welcome Fairfield to the Bryant Baseball Complex for the 2011home-opener. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.