Brown, Bryant power past Bobcats

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.) and rookie Joseph Carcone (New Hartford, N.Y.) combined to go 6-for-7 with three RBIs, as the Bryant University baseball team powered past Quinnipiac University, 11-7, in the first of the four-game series Friday afternoon.

Bryant's (24-22, 13-11) 11-run performance is tied for the second highest this season, but the Bobcats (14-30, 10-19) still managed to outhit the Black and Gold, 16-13. The Bulldogs went 7-for-16 with runners in scoring position and generated five two-out RBIs in the outing.

Starting pitcher, John Michael Ryan (Worcester, Mass.) got in some early trouble in the top of the first, loading the bases on two singles and a bunt, but exited the frame with three stranded after recording a pop out and strikeout.

Ryan (5-3), who finished the day with four Ks and three earned runs in seven innings of work, received plenty of run support, as the first five batters for Bryant reached base and all five would come across. Connor Carignan (Norwich, Conn.) led off with a walk before Brown slapped a 1-2 pitch into right field for a single. David Soltis (Plainville, Conn.) followed up with a RBI single to left field to give Bryant the 1-0 edge.

Still in the bottom of the first, catcher Mike DelPonte (Tewksbury, Mass.) got hit by a pitch to load the bases for right fielder Jordan English (Windsor Locks, Conn.), who sent a 1-0 pitch off the left field wall, bringing home Brown and Soltis for the 3-0 lead. Jamie Skagerlind (Holden, Mass.) continued to pour it on with a RBI sacrifice fly to left field, and Joe Carcone added the fifth and final run in the frame with a two-out RBI single through the right side.

The visiting Bobcats responded in the top of the second, as lead-off man Ben Forina picked up a RBI ground out to second base, cutting the lead to 5-1.

Quinnipiac would continue to chip away the lead in the fourth and sixth, adding a run in each frame. Farina would pick up his second RBI in the outing with a hard-hit single right back up the middle in the top of the fourth.

After five scoreless innings for the hosts, Brown, who finished the day 3-for-4 at the dish, led off the seventh with a standup triple and DelPonte would walk one batter later. With two aboard, Skagerlind smacked a double to deep right field, for his second and third RBI in the outing. Norton followed up with RBI double to center field, giving the Bulldogs a 8-3 edge. Carcone, who finished the day 3-for-3, recorded a RBI triple to straight-away center for the six-run lead.

Once again the visiting side responded, putting up a score in the top of the eighth off the bat of Ray Buckley. The designated hitter for the Bobcats connected on a two-out single through the right side to cut the lead to 9-4.

The Bulldogs would tack on two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, with Brown and English each chipping in with a RBI. While Ryan Granat (Long Valley, N.J.) took over duties for Jonathan Cohen (Norwalk, Conn.) on the hill, and allowed three runs on three hits and two errors before closing the door to secure the 11-7 victory for the Bulldogs.

With the W, Bryant moves to 11-6 at home this season and is now 5-0 when scoring 10 or more in an outing. The Bulldogs remain a perfect 5-0 against Quinnipiac since making the jump to Division I and move to 5-17 when getting outhit by the opposition.

The Bulldogs look to make it three-straight with a Saturday twinbill against Quinnipiac. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1:00 p.m., and fans can follow live stats at www.bryantbulldogs.com and watch every minute live at www.bryantbulldogs.tv.