Baseball stays hot, takes two against FDU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After generating 21 base knocks, two home runs and 16 runs, the Bryant University baseball team took two against Fairleigh Dickinson University, 7-0 and 9-2, Saturday afternoon in Teaneck, N.J.

Bryant (29-23, 17-12 Northeast Conference) now owns a 3-0 series lead against the Knights (12-36, 9-21) after taking the Friday opener, as the club has tied or won six series in league play in 2011.

In the early contest, senior John Michael Ryan (Worcester, Mass.) tossed a two-hit complete-game shutout in the 7-0 win.

The Bulldogs posted a five spot in the top of the first, as Connor Carignan (Norwich, Conn.) led off with a walk before Kevin Brown (North bough, Mass.) reached first on a dropped fly by the Knight's outfielder. David Soltis (Plainville, Conn.) then delivered a two-run single. Jordan English (Windsor Locks, Conn.) would then deliver Bryant's third run of the game, connecting on a RBI single to centerfield. Jamie Skagerlind (Holden, Mass) and Tim Norton (Barnstable, Mass.) both chipped in with RBI knocks to give the visitors a 5-0 lead.

On the mound, Ryan continued to deal, as the righty finished the outing with three strikeouts. The Massachusetts native would retire the side in order in the first, third, fifth and seventh innings to pick up his sixth victory in 2011.

Brown went yard for the team-best fourth time this season in the top of the second, as the sophomore s now batting .292, second-best in the lineup.

Ryan's complete-game shutout marks the first time this season for the righty, but the third time in 2011 a Bryant pitcher has recorded one.

In the night cap, Norton and Skagerlind combined to go 4-for-7 with six RBIs, as the Bulldogs completed the Saturday sweep over Fairleigh Dickinson, knocking off the Knights, 9-2.

Bryant continued to work the Knight's pitching staff, outhitting the home side, 13-5, for the third-straight matchup.

Unlike the first two head-to-heads, the Knights jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on starting pitcher Salvatore Lisanti (Bronx, N.Y.), but Norton responded with the long ball in the top of the third, his fourth of the season and third in past three games.

After both sides exchanged runs in the fourth, the visitors broke open the score in the sixth with a four-run frame that included a two-run double by Norton, RBI double by Adam Claire (Litchfield, Conn.) and a one-run single by catcher Colin Shepard (Boxford, Mass.).

Holding a 6-2 lead, senior Mark Andrews (Hillsborough, N.J.) pitched the final four innings, allowing one hit and one walk in four-scoreless frames. Andrews retired the side in order of the bottom of the seventh to secure the 9-2 win, as the southpaw moved to 5-4 on the season.

Bryant will wrap-up its 2011 regular season schedule tomorrow afternoon against Fairleigh Dickinson looking to reach the 30-win mark for the third-straight year. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m., and fans can follow live stats at www.bryantbulldogs.com.