Baseball closes season with Wagner

BULLDOGS CLOSE 2012 WITH SERIES AGAINST WAGNER

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With a chance to claim its second Northeast Conference regular-season championship in three years, the Bryant University baseball closes out its 2012 campaign with a four-game series against Wagner starting on Friday, May 11 at 3:00 p.m. at Conaty Park.

The Bulldogs (30-20, 21-7 NEC) enter the weekend with a 1.5 game lead over Monmouth for the top spot in the NEC and will need to win three-of-four against the Seahawks to claim at least a share of their second title in three years. Wagner, on the other hand, starts the weekend 1.5 games out of the playoffs and will need to win three, or possibly sweep the Bulldogs, in order to have a chance to make the postseason tournament.

This weekend's meeting will be the third between the two clubs since the Black and Gold joined the NEC in 2009. Bryant and Wagner split a four-game series last year, with the teams scoring a combined 16 runs. Two years ago, the Bulldogs swept the Seahawks in Smithfield thanks to a pair of walk-off victories.

Just like last week, Friday's opener will feature two of the NEC's top pitchers in Bryant's Peter Kelich (Jackson, N.J.) and Wagner's Ryan Van Spronsen. Kelich earned a no decision last week against Monmouth and currently leads the league in wins with eight. Van Spronsen has been just as good this year, posting a 7-1 record overall with a 2.08 ERA in 91 innings. Both have struggled against the opponent, as both suffered defeats last year at Richmond County Ballpark.

Beyond Friday's two starters, pitching could prove to be the big difference maker this weekend. The Bulldogs feature the league's lowest ERA in conference play, posting a 2.26 mark against league opponents. On the other side, Wagner has posted a 4.50 ERA against league foes and has allowed opponents to hit .304 against them.

Ian Miller is the straw that stirs the drink for the Seahawks. He leads the team with a .333 average and has scored 38 runs. He also leads the league with 32 stolen bases. Eddie Brown has driven in a team-high 36 runs and has swiped 22-of-24 bases.

For the Bulldogs, senior Connor Carignan (Norwich, Conn.) continued his second-half turnaround last weekend. He had six hits against the Hawks, including a pair of doubles on Saturday. He leads the team with a .315 average and is a perfect 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts against league opponents. Nearing the end of his third season in Smithfield, junior Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.) enters the weekend tied for the league lead in runs with 38 and is just seven hits shy of reaching 200 in his career.

This weekend is also a special one for the six Bryant seniors; Carignan, Jamie Skagerlind, Mike DelPonte, David Soltis, Brian O'Neil and Dan Walsh. The six will be honored in a pre-game ceremony on Sunday before playing in their final game with the Black and Gold.

Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. with two seven-inning games, and Sunday's series finale is set for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.