Baseball sweeps Quinnipiac, 11-5, 1-0

BULLDOGS COLLECT 15 HITS IN GAME ONE, WIN GAME TWO, 1-0

HAMDEN, Conn. – Six different Bryant University baseball players recorded multiple hits and the Bulldogs broke open a close game with a six-run fifth inning to take game one of their four-game Northeast Conference series with Quinnipiac University, 11-5, and John Mullen's (Walpole, Mass.) eighth-inning single broke a scoreless tie and helped the Bulldogs sweep Friday afternoon at the QU Baseball Field.  

The Bulldogs (23-15, 15-3 NEC) reached double-digit hits for the fourth-straight game in game one, collecting 15 on the afternoon. Bryant has now won nine-of-10 against the Bobcats (7-30, 5-17 NEC) over the last three years.

Seniors Jamie Skagerlind (Holden, Mass.) and Mike DelPonte (Tewksbury, Mass.) each had three hits and Connor Carignan (Norwich, Conn.), Dan Muscatello (Hopkinton, Mass.), Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.) and Matt Zanotta (Schenectady, N.Y.) all had two hits on the day. The 15-hit attack backed a solid seven-inning outing from junior Peter Kelich (Jackson, N.J.). The right-hander allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits and struck out five to pick up his seventh win of the season and the 22^nd of his career.

Bryant got the scoring started in the third inning, plating three runs. Freshman Carl Anderson (Sudbury, Mass.) worked a leadoff walk and then advanced to second on errant pickoff attempt. Two batters later, he scored the game's first run as Muscatello laced a single over the shortstop's head. The Bulldogs then caught a break as Brown appeared to pop out to third base but the Bobcat third baseman was standing out of play when he made the catch. With his at-bat extended, Brown doubled off the top of the wall in right-center to put runners on second and third. Muscatello then tried to score as Mullen dribbled one in front of home plate. Muscatello was tagged out for the second out but Skagerlind came through with a single to right-center to score Brown. The Bulldogs eventually loaded the bases and scored their final run of the inning as QU catcher Kyle Nisson threw away a pickoff attempt at first base, allowing Mullen to score from third.

Quinnipiac finally got to Kelich in the next half inning. Jesse Ullrich reached on a throwing error with one out and scored on a Vincent Guglietti single into center field. The Bobcats inning was cut short, however, as Nisson lined into an inning-ending 4-3 double play.

The Bulldogs appeared to break through in the second inning but were held off the scoreboard by an inopportune bounce. With runners on first and second and two outs, Zanotta smacked a sharp ground ball through the right side that scored Skagerlind from second, but it was ruled that the ball made contact with DelPonte on its way through the infield, consequently ending the inning.

Bryant added some cushion to its lead with a six-run fifth inning. QU starter Derek Lamacchia actually struck out the first two batters but Mullen was able to reach first as the third strike went to the backstop. Skagerlind followed with a single to right to put Mullen on third and DelPonte clubbed a ground-rule double to plate the first run of the inning. Junior Adam Claire (Litchfield, Conn.) made it 5-1 with a sac fly to right and Anderson followed with a three-run home run to right-center. The long ball was the first of Anderson's career and made the score 8-1. The Black and Gold tacked on their final run as Carignan singled, stole second and scored on a Muscatello double to right-center.

The Bulldogs capped their scoring with two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Muscatello walked and Brown singled to start the inning and both would score on a two-out single from DelPonte to make it 11-4.

Quinnipiac chipped away at the deficit over the rest of the game. The Bobcats scored a single run in the sixth as Ullrich singled with one out, moved to second on a passed ball, to third on a fly out and scored on a Zak Palmer single to center. QU added two more runs in the seventh thanks to three-straight singles to start the inning. A Guglietti single capped the streak and scored the first run of the inning and Nisson made it 9-4 with a sac fly to center. Carignan kept the damage to just two runs with a diving catch in right-center to end the inning. The Bobcats added a fifth and final run in the eighth on a sac fly from Brian Ruditys.

 DelPonte and Anderson each drove in three runs and Anderson was one of three Bulldogs to score twice on the afternoon (Brown, Mullen). Sophomore Bryan Menduke (Oakland, N.J.) tossed the final two innings and allowed one run on three hits.

Game two

Mullen's RBI single in the top of the eighth inning made a winner Schlitter and gave the Bulldogs the sweep over the Bobcats.

Carignan started the eighth-inning rally with a single up the middle and then stole second. He moved to third on a fly ball to right field and after Brown was intentionally walked, Mullen ripped a single into left-center to give the Bulldogs the lead.

The story of game two was the pitching duel between Schlitter and Spenser Kane. The two right-handers combined to allow just one run on eight hits.

Schlitter tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and striking out three. He set down seven-straight from the third through the fifth inning. Kane threw all eight innings for the Bobcats, allowing one run on four hits while striking out three.

The Bobcats had the first real chance of the afternoon as Brian Ruditys singled to start the inning, moved to second on a sac bunt, to third on a ground out but Schlitter left him there with a strikeout.

Bryant had the next chance in the top of the fifth, putting a pair of runners on base. Skagerlind singled with one out and Scott drew a two-out walk to put runners on first and second. Kane was able to work out of the jam with a ground ball to first.

Trying to use the momentum, Quinnipiac built a rally in its half of the fifth. Scott Donaghue was hit by a pitch with one out and Forrest Dwyer singled to put two runners on. Schlitter escaped the inning thanks to some solid defense. Sophomore Jonathan Scott (Princeton, N.J.) recorded the second out as he raced to the backstop and made a basket catch, and Skagerlind knocked down a hard ground ball and flipped to Schlitter at first to retire the side.

The Bulldogs threatened again in the top of the sixth. Carignan was hit by a pitch and Muscatello walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Again, Kane buckled down and got Bryant's 3-4 hitters to fly out to left and pop out to short to end the inning.

Quinnipiac had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning but stranded two more runners. Donaghue walked and Dwyer singled with two outs but Schlitter Ruditys to pop out to first to end the inning.

The Bulldogs and Bobcats will complete their four-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12:00 p.m. Game one will be a seven-inning contest and game two will be the full nine innings.