English and Bulldogs Defeat Marist 3-1

Bulldogs travel to Orono, Maine this weekend to face Maine Black Bears

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Jordan English (Windsor Locks, Conn.) lined a two-run single into left in the fifth inning helping lead the Bryant University baseball team to a 3-1 non-conference win over visiting Marist at chilly Baseball Complex Tuesday afternoon.

English would collect two hits on the day, including a double to left field in the first inning, his eighth double of the season.  But Marist would get out of the inning unscathed as starter Chris Bielak would retire the next two Bryant batters.

Marist (16-5) would take a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth as Eric Helmrich lined a double into left-center off Bulldog starter Brian O'Neil (North Reading, Mass.).  But O'Neil, who pitched well while battling the cold wind, would get out of the inning without further damage as the junior righty fanned Pat Welsh and Nick McQuail to retire the side.

An inning later, with the Bulldogs still down 1-0, Tim Norton (Barnstable, Mass.) drilled a hard single into left to start the bottom of the fifth.  He would move up to second on a bloop hit into right field by freshman Edward Rooney (Merion Station, Pa.).  Both runners would move into scoring position following a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Dan Muscatello (Hopkinton, Mass.).

Following a walk issued to Connor Carignan (Norwich, Conn.) to load the bases, Bielak would get Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.) to line out to second for the second out, but English would come through, lining a hard single to score both Norton and Rooney.  Rooney had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. 

The Bulldogs (10-12) would add an insurance run in the eighth which proved more than enough for closer Mark Andrews (Hillsborough, N.J.), this week's NEC Pitcher of the Week honoree, who came on to pitch the final two innings to earn his fifth save of the season.