Bulldogs fall to Wagner, despite late rally

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior Mike DelPonte (Tewksbury, Mass.) connected on a two-run single through the right side of the diamond in the top of the eighth to cut the lead to one, but that is as close as the Bryant University baseball team would get, dropping a 4-3 decision to Wagner College Friday afternoon at Richmond County Ballpark in Staten Island, N.Y.

Sophomore Peter Kelich (Jackson, N.J.) started on the mound for the Bulldogs (11-14, 3-6 NEC) and was tagged with his third loss of the season, despite dealing six strikeouts and allowing just three earned runs. His counterpart, Mark Holmes, would go the distance for the Seahawks (9-17, 7-6 NEC), allowing 11 hits and two walks in 9.0 innings of work.

At the plate, the Bulldogs were led by DelPonte's two-hit, two-RBI performance while sophomore Dan Mucatello (Hopkinton, Mass.) produced a game-high three hits, as the lineup outhit the Seahawks 11-9.

Wagner opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with a Jon Lucas RBI single, giving the home side a 1-0 edge entering the second.

Kelich would settle in after the first and find his rhythm on the mound, retiring the side in the second frame and holding the opposing lineup to just two hits over the next three innings.

Despite the strong outing by the right hander, the Seahawks would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, to push the lead out to three.

The Bulldogs would respond with the long ball, as Jamie Skagerlind (Holden, Mass.) went yard in the top of the seventh, belting his first home run of the season to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Seahawks would respond with a run of their own, push the lead out to 4-1 in the bottom half the seventh with a RBI double of the bat of Seth Boyd.

With Holmes still on the mound, Joe Carcone (New Hartford, N.Y.) started a late rally for the Bulldogs in the eighth inning with a lead-off single to the left side of the infield. Carcone would advance to second after Muscatello connected on a full-count single to center field, placing runners on first and second with no outs. Two strikeouts later, David Soltis (Plainville, Conn.) would reach first on balls, loading the bases for DelPonte. The catcher would deliver with a two-run single through the right side, bringing home Muscatello and Carcone.

Despite the late surge, that is as close as the Bulldogs would get, dropping the first game of the weekend series, 4-3.

The Bulldogs look to bounce back in a doubleheader against Wagner tomorrow in Staten Island, N.Y.  First pitch of the twinbill is slated for 1:00 p.m. and fans can follow live stats at www.bryantbulldogs.com.