Bryant splits Friday twinbill with LIU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. –  A nine-run, four-hit offensive explosion in the bottom of the fourth inning proved to be the difference, as the Bryant University baseball team started the day with a 10-5 win against Long Island University, but dropped the night cap, 4-0, at the Bryant Baseball Complex Friday afternoon.

Despite generating just six hits, the Bulldogs (20-18, 10-9 Northeast Conference) held the Blackbirds (22-14, 14-5) to just 5-for-15 with runners in scoring position in the first game. While starting pitcher Peter Kelich (Jackson, N.J.) tossed eight strikeouts and issued five walks in 5.2 innings of work.

For the second-straight outing, the Blackbirds broke the seal with a run in the top of the third when Drew Walsh connected on a two-out RBI double down the right field line, giving LIU the 1-0 edge.

Bryant would strike back in the bottom of the fourth after David Soltis (Plainville, Conn.) came across home on a hit by Mike DelPonte (Tewksbury, Mass.).

After the visiting side posted a run in the top of the fifth, the Bulldogs began to spray the ball over the diamond and seize mistakes by the LIU infield. After Jamie Skagerlind (Holden, Mass.) reached on a walk and advanced to second on a Tim Norton (Barnstable, Mass.) single, both would come across when Soltis smacked a single right at the shortstop, forcing an error and allowing two to come home. Connor Carginan (Norwich, Conn.), who had reached on the first fielding error in the outing, would give the Bulldogs a 3-2 edge after Brown single to left field. One batter later, DelPonte would deliver his second RBI on the day with a single to centerfield, bringing home Soltis.

The Bulldogs continued to come across after Adam Claire (Litchfield, Conn.) executed a textbook safety squeeze bunt, allowing Brown to touch home plate for his only run of the game. Long Island would once again commit errors in the field, as DelPonte scratched across after Joseph Carcone (New Hartford, N.Y.) took first on an error by the third basemen. Catcher Colin Shepard (Boxfrod, Mass.) then stepped into the batter's box and lit up the scoreboard with a two-run stand up triple to centerfield. Shepard would eventually cross home for the 10-2 lead on a wild pitch by the Blackbird's reliever.

After allowing three runs in the top of the sixth, Kelich would give way to Matt Griswold (Berlin, Conn.), who then tossed the final out in the frame before Bryant senior Mark Andrews (Hillsborough, N.J.) dealt two K's to secure the 10-5 victory.

LIU committed five total errors in the outing while registering eight hits at the plate. On the home side, Bryant was paced offensively by Shepard's 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs and a run scored.

In the late outing, Bryant was not able to convert, as the Bulldogs went a combined 5-for-23 at the dish with one walk and one extra base knock.

Salvatore Lisanti (Bronx, N.Y.) threw five strikeouts in 5.2 but could not hold off the LIU bats, surrendering four earned runs en route to his third loss of the season.

LIU went up 2-0 in the second inning on back-to-back hits by Tito Marrero and Derek Stupski, each recording an RBI in the at bat.

The Blackbirds would continue to separate themselves in the fifth and sixth, picking up two more runs on a RBI double by Albert Faz and a RBI single through the gap off Tyler Jones' bat.

That is all the run support Matt McCormick would need, throwing seven shutout innings and walking just one batter in the contest.

The Bulldogs look for the series split Saturday morning at the Bryant Baseball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., and fans can follow live stats at www.bryantbulldogs.com.