Bryant wins sixth-straight, topples Harvard
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With two outs and a runner on second in the top of the eighth, junior shortstop David Soltis (Plainville, Conn.) belted a single to right center for the game-winning RBI, as the Bryant University baseball team ousted Harvard University, 3-2, before toppling the Crimson, 12-2, in the night cap for the Tuesday sweep in Cambridge, Mass.
With the pair of victories Bryant moved to 3-0 against Harvard this season and the Bulldogs are now 10-13 in road games in 2011. The Black and Gold are currently riding a six-game win streak and have won nine of the last 12 outings.
Bryant's (19-16) all-time leader in appearances Mark Andrews (Hillsborough, N.J.) picked up his fourth win of the season after tossing 2.2 shutout innings. The southpaw's victory over Harvard (6-28) came after starting pitcher Brian O'Neil (North Reading, Mass.) threw 5.1 innings with five Ks.
Bryant would strike first in the top of the second, as Joe Carcone (New Hartford, N.Y.)cracked a RBI single to centerfield, bringing home Jordan English (Windsor Locks, Conn.) for the 1-0 edge.
Connor Carignan (Norwich, Conn.)would connect on a one-out double to right center before coming across on a Soltis RBI single up the middle of the diamond for the 2-0 edge.
Harvard would respond in the bottom half with two runs, first on a throwing error and then on a double by Jake McGuiggan for the 2-2 tie after three.
O'Neil would zone in on the mound and retire the side in the fourth on strikeouts and face just three batters in the fifth, before giving way to Andrews, who dealt four strikeouts over the next 1.2 to force extra innings.
The Bulldogs would take advantage of the opportunity, as Carignan reached first and advanced to second on a two-out dropped pop fly to right field. Soltis would deliver his second RBI of the game on a 0-1 pitch to right center for the go-ahead run.
The Bulldogs outhit the Crimson, 6-3, with Soltis' 2-for-3 two-RBI performance leading the way. Carignan chipped in with two hits to go along with his two runs.
In the late game, Joe Michaud (Milford, Conn.)took the hill for the Black and Gold for the first time in 2011. Michaud, a four-game winner in 2010, dealt four strikeouts and allowed just one run along with one walk in his debut. On offensive side of things, the Bulldogs wasted no time getting on the board, as the visitors posted five runs in the top of second en route to the 12-2 rout over the Crimson.
With the bases loaded in the top of the second, Carignan stepped into the batter's box and plated two runs off a RB single up the middle. Tim Norton (Barnstable, Mass.) would add the third run of the game on a wild pitch after stealing third base and Bryant picked up two more scores after Carignan and Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.)came across on errant pitchers by the Crimson for the 5-0 lead.
Harvard would respond in the bottom half of the frame with a solo shot from Tom Arledge, cutting the Bulldogs lead to four.
The visiting Bulldogs would then start to pour on the runs in the top of the fourth, when Norton lead off with a double down the right field line. One batter later, Brown connected on a double of his own, moving Norton over to third before he would touch home on a wild pitch. Soltis would step to the dish and deliver yet another RBI on the day in the form of a single to left field, bringing home Brown for the 7-1 edge. Colin Dougherty (Lowell, Mass.) would bring home Soltis with an RBI knock through the left side and with the bases loaded Zachary Trenteseaux (Narragansett, R.I.) would draw a walk for another score in the at bat.
The Crimson pitching staff would continue to walk in runs, as Colin Shepard (Boxford, Mass.) worked the count before reaching base on balls, giving the Bulldogs a 9-1 lead. Norton would continue to see the ball well, picking up his second hit in the inning with a RBI single before Carignan reached on a fielder's choice for the 12-1 lead.
The home side would put up another score in the bottom half but the combination of Johnathon Cohen (Norwalk, Conn.) and Matt Griswold (Berlin, Conn.)shut the door on any sort of comeback as the game would be called in the top of the seventh due to darkness.
Griswold would move to 1-0 on the season with the W, while six different Bulldogs notched a hit, while Carignan paced the lineup with his three RBIs.
Bryant returns to Northeast Conference action Thursday afternoon, as Long Island comes to Smithfield for a four-game stand. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., and fans can follow live stats at www.bryantbulldogs.com.