Bulldogs, Bears postponed again, meet Thursday in Providence

BASEBALL TRAVELS TO INTRA-STATE FOE BROWN ON THURSDAY

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Rated third in the most recent New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) poll and winners of nine-straight, the Bryant University baseball team will look to continue the nation's second-longest winning streak when it faces intra-state foe Brown on Thursday afternoon at Murray Stadium in Providence.

**ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO BE PLAYED ON TUESDAY, THE GAME WAS RESCHEDULED TO WEDNESDAY BUT WAS POSTPONED AGAIN DUE TO COLD WEATHER**

The Bulldogs (14-9-1) haven't lost since returning from their spring trip to Ohio and are coming off their second-straight sweep of a conference opponent over the weekend. The Bears (2-15) have struggled this season but have played a very tough schedule that includes games against LSU, Auburn and Washington State.

Bryant's series with Brown restarted in 2008 and the Bulldogs hold a slim 5-4 advantage. They met twice in 2008, five times in 2009 and once each in 2010 and 2011. Last season, the Bears and Bulldogs didn't play due to a scheduling conflict. Bryant, however, has won the last three meetings, including a 5-4 victory over the Bears in 2011 in which they scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning.

This season, Brown challenged itself with a very tough early season schedule and its record shows it. The Bears have played LSU twice, Auburn three times, Washington State four times and Gonzaga twice. This past weekend, Brown opened IVY League play, losing a pair of doubleheaders to Cornell and Princeton. As a team, the Bears are hitting just .219 and have posted a 6.15 team ERA. Daniel Massey leads the team with a .367 average, a home run and seven RBI. Will Marcal is also hitting .313 with two doubles, a triple, a home run and seven RBI. Thursday's starter, Eddie Fitzpatrick has one of Brown's two wins on the season, earning a victory in relief over Nicholls State.

The Bulldogs have played some of their best baseball over the past two weeks, winning their last nine games. The streak is the longest since the 2009 team won 10 straight. Bryant broke out offensively last week, raising its team average to .260. Senior Kevin Brown (Northborough, Mass.) had a phenomenal week, earning Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week and Northeast Conference Player of the Week honors after hitting .667 with three home runs, 14 RBI and 11 runs scored. Sophomore Carl Anderson (Sudbury, Mass.) also had a big week at the plate, going 8-for-19 with a pair of doubles, six RBI and three stolen bases. Bryant will send senior Joseph Michaud (Milford, Conn.) to the mound on Thursday to face Brown. The right-hander is looking for his second victory of the year and has allowed just two runs (one earned) over his last 16 innings pitched.

Following Wednesday's mid-week tilt, the Bulldogs will return to Conaty Park to host Siena in a three-game series starting on Saturday, April 6.