Bulldogs take on in-state rival Rhody

GAME INFORMATION
Bryant University (13-15, 5-7 NEC) vs. University of Rhode Island (16-13, 6-4 Atlantic 10)
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 3:30 p.m.
Smithfield, R.I. – Bryant Baseball Complex
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SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team (13-15, 5-7 NEC) returns to action Wednesday afternoon at the Baseball Complex for a mid-week contest against the University of Rhode Island (16-13, 6-4 A-10). Bryant will look to continue its winning ways after taking the series finale, 5-1, over Wagner College Sunday afternoon.

Bryant and Rhode Island will be meeting for the third-straight season, as the Bulldogs took the first head-to-head, 7-1, in Smithfield, R.I. on March 29, 2009. In the six-run victory both Jordan English (Windsor Locks, Conn.) and Jamie Skagerlind (Holden, Mass.) each recorded an RBI and chipped in with three combined hits. The Bulldogs then would claim a 5-1 victory later that season in Kingston, R.I. on April 7, 2009. Rhody took the most recent matchup, 11-10, in Kingston, R.I. on April 14, 2010.

Scouting Bryant

The Bryant University baseball team enters the mid-week matchup having split the past eight games and 6-4 in the last ten outings. Bryant is coming off a 2-2 split against Wagner College in Northeast Conference action this past weekend and currently sit in a tie with Sacred Heart (13-17, 5-7) for sixth place in the latest league standings.

At the dish, David Soltis (Plainville, Conn.) and Joseph Carcone (New Hartford, N.Y.) have combined for 16 hits, four RBIs, three doubles and six runs in the past six outings. Junior Mike DelPonte (Tewksbury, Mass.) has been seeing the ball extremely well as of late, knocking in a team-high five RBIs since April 6 to go along with his two doubles.  

The Bulldogs are hitting a collective .251 on the season with 56 extra base hits, including 15 in the past week of action. Three different Bulldogs are hitting .300 or better from the plate and four have registered at least 10 RBIs on the year.

On the hill, senior righty John Michael Ryan (Worcester, Mass.) has been zoned in over the past week, posting 11 K's and allowing one earned run in 10.2 innings of work. Ryan picked up his third win of the season against Wagner on Sunday has posted a team-low 0.84ERA in the past two appearances combined. Hard-throwing righty Brian O'Neil (North Reading, Mass.) picked up his third W against Harvard on April 7, tossing 7.0 innings with a mere one earned run.

Scouting Rhody

Rhody (16-13, 6-4) enters the contest having won five of its last six games, including two of three against St. Louis a weekend ago.

Offensively, redshirt junior Jeff Cammans leads the way for URI with a .408 batting average, 42 hits, 26 runs and 16 stolen bases. Senior Tom Coulombe paces the squad with 28RBI on 38 hits while redshirt junior Greg Annarummo has scored 20 runs on 36 hits and enters the outing with an eight-game hit streak.

On the mound, Rhody is paced by Ken Graveline and his 3-3 record in eight appearances. Graveline has generated a team-best 48.1 innings of work with a team-low 3.72 ERA. Supporting the rotation is Chris Pickering and his 3-3 mark in 44.0 innings. Pickering has dealt 32 K's and has issued 11 walks in his eight starts.

Probable Starters

Bryant: Brian O'Neil –RHP (3-2, 4.70 ERA) vs. Rhode Island: Brian Bodjiak – RHP (2-1, 9.69 ERA)

Three up… Three down

-Head coach Steve Owens earned his 600^th career victory in Sunday's win over Wagner.

- The Bulldogs are 21-7 in the last 28 games at the baseball complex dating back to the 2010 season.

- Bryant is 2-1 against A-10 teams in the past three seasons with all three matchups coming against the Rams

- Bryant is 3-3 in the month of April but posted a 14-6 in the calendar month during the 2010 campaign.

- The Bulldogs are 1-2 in game played on Wednesday this season.