Bulldogs head to Norfolk, Va., to face Old Dominion Tuesday

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team continues its spring break trip with an unexpected stop in Norfolk, Va., to take on Old Dominion. The Bulldogs were originally scheduled to face Delaware St. but the game was cancelled due to poor playing conditions.

THE SERIES
Bryant and Old Dominion will be meeting for the first time in program history.

SCOUTING THE MONARCHS
Old Dominion enters today's contest fresh off a sweep of Penn over the weekend. The Monarchs won a pair of games on Sunday before completing the series sweep on Monday afternoon. At 5-5 on the year, the Monarchs have already lost a considerable amount of games due to poor weather. Following today's game, ODU will head on the road to take on nationally-ranked Virginia. The Monarchs are 5-2 after opening the season with three-straight losses.

The Monarchs are hitting .281 as a team over the first 10 games of the season. P.J. Higgins leads the way with a .410 average. He has 16 hits, two doubles, a home run, nine RBI and six runs scored. Joseph Guaranga (.375), Connor Myers (.355), Matt Cogen (.346), Mike Perez (.333) and Taylor Ostrich (.303) are the other regulars that are hitting over .300. Myers is second on the team with six RBI and is tied with Cogen for the team lead in stolen bases with four.

On the mound, ODU has posted a 4.34 ERA so far this season. In 87 innings, they have allowed 89 hits and 29 extra-base hits. Opponents have posted a .264 average against them. Bryant could see a bit of a depleted bullpen after the Monarchs have played five games in the last week.

HARFORD GOOD TO BULLDOGS
Last weekend will marked the second-straight year that the Bulldogs played a series at Harford Community College. Last season, the Black and Gold took three-of-four from Delaware at Harford. Bryant had an explosive offensive weekend, scoring 39 runs and hitting nine home runs. This past weekend, they scored 34 runs and collected 13 extra-base hits.

ALBANESE MAKES HISTORY WITH CYCLE ON SUNDAY
Sophomore Matt Albanese made history on Sunday night, becoming the first Bulldog in Division I history to hit for the cycle. He singled in his first at-bat, tripled in his second at-bat, homered and then doubled in his final at-bat of the game. He finished 4-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored.

JOHNSON SET TO MAKE FIRST CAREER START
Ryan Johnson will make his first collegiate start this afternoon against Old Dominion. The 6-3 freshman has pitched twice in relief, tossing scoreless innings against UTSA and Liberty.