Baseball drops series finale

SMITHFIELD, R.I. –The Bryant University baseball team held a 2-1 advantage going into the seventh frame but could not hold on for the win as the Bulldogs fell to Northeast Conference foe Monmouth, 4-2, Sunday afternoon in the finale of a four-game set for a split in the series at the Bryant Baseball Complex.

Bryant (9-12, 3-5 NEC) was paced offensively by sophomore Dan Muscatello (Hopkinton, Mass.) who went 1-for-3 at the plate in drove in both runs while Monmouth's (9-10, 5-3 NEC) Ryan Terry collected two hits and a pair of RBIs in the leadoff spot for the visitors.

Andy McDonnell picked up the win for the Hawks, allowing two earned runs in 6.0 innings while Andrew McGee came in to shut the door in the ninth for his third save of the season. Despite allowing just two earned runs in 6.2 innings of work on the mound with four strikeouts, senior John Michael Ryan (Worcester, Mass.) took the loss for the Bulldogs.

 Bryant jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs in the second frame as Jamie Skagerlind (Holden, Mass.) and Zachary Trenteseaux (Narragansett, R.I.) hit back-to-back one-out singles and advanced after Tim Norton (Barnstable, Mass.) was hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded, Muscatello singled to right center, driving in a pair for the 2-0 advantage.

After Monmouth trimmed the Bulldog lead to one with an unearned run in the fifth, the visitors struck again in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs off Bryant reliever Dan Walsh (Burlington, Mass.) on an RBI triple by Terry for the 3-2 lead.

After the Hawks added an insurance run in the top of the eighth on a solo shot by Danny Avella, the home side put on the pressure by loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth but McGee got out of the jam to pick up the save.

The Black and Gold return to action on Tuesday, March 29 when they play host to Marist at 3:00 p.m.