Bulldogs finish season with 2-1 win

SMITFHIELD, R.I. – Freshman Kevin McAvoy (Syracuse, N.Y.) allowed one run over seven innings and senior David Soltis (Plainville, Conn.) hit his second home run of the year as the Bryant University baseball team closed its 2012 season with a 2-1 victory over Wagner on Sunday afternoon at Conaty Park.

The Bulldogs finish the season 33-21 overall and 24-8 in the Northeast Conference. Wagner finishes the season with a record of 22-33 and 14-17.

Making his final start of his rookie campaign, McAvoy made a strong push for conference rookie of the year honors. He limited the Seahawks to six hits and struck out two to pick up his fifth win of the season. After losing his first career start, McAvoy won each of his last five decisions on in

Playing in the final game of his Bulldog career, Soltis got the Bulldogs on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning with his second home run of the season. Wagner responded by tying the game in the next inning but Bryant scored the eventual winning run in the bottom of the sixth.

Junior Dan Muscatello (Hopkinton, Mass.) was hit by a pitch with two outs and then stole second. Freshman Carl Anderson (Sudbury, Mass.) followed with a two-out single up the middle to score Muscatello and break the 1-1 tie.

Wagner made two late pushes to tie the game but junior Salvatore Lisanti (Bronx, N.Y.) was able to work out of danger to earn his ninth save of the season. He entered in the eighth inning with two on and one out and quickly got a strikeout. He hit the next batter, however, to load the bases but got out of the jam with a ground ball to second. Wagner loaded the bases again in the ninth but Soltis corralled a chopper to third and tagged the runner to end the game.

Prior to the game, the Bulldogs honored their six seniors; Soltis, Connor Carignan, Mike DelPonte, Jamie Skagerlind, Dan Walsh and Brian O'Neil. Carignan, DelPonte and Skagerlind all registered hits in their final game wearing the Black and Gold.