Davitt dazzles as Bulldogs shutout Mason, 7-0, to take series
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior James Davitt (Wallingford, Conn.) and two relief pitchers combined on a two-hit shutout to lead the Bryant University baseball team to a 7-0 victory over George Mason on Sunday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
With the win, the Bulldogs (8-2) take the series from the Patriots (2-8) and extend their Division I program-record start to the season. The all-time series between the two programs is now tied 3-3.
Davitt was outstanding for the second-straight week as he allowed just one hit, didn't walk a batter and struck out a career-high eight in six innings to move to 2-0 on the year. After Tim Turner reached on a fielder's choice in the second, Davitt was downright filthy. He picked off Turner at first to end the second and then retired the final 12 batters, striking out six, of his outing. Davitt has now walked just one batter and struck out 18 in 14 2/3 innings this season.
Freshman Steve Theetge (Cicero, N.Y.) and sophomore Logan Lessard (Cromwell, Conn.) finished out the game for the Bulldogs. Theetge allowed one hit, walked two and struck out two in two innings of relief, while Lessard pitched a perfect ninth to close the door. Bryant's pitching staff pitched to the tune of a 1.38 ERA and struck out 31 batters in 26 innings during the series.
Offensively, the Black and Gold used a pair of three-run innings to ease past the Patriots. Leading 1-0 in the sixth thanks to a two-out RBI single from junior Brandon Bingel (Peabody, Mass.), the Bulldogs added three runs on three hits to extend their lead. Junior Cole Fabio (Mahwah, N.J.) walked to open the inning and classmate Matt Albanese (East Haddam, Conn.) followed with a double to center to put runners on second and third. Senior Robby Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) then flew out to left to bring home Fabio to make it 2-0.
Albanese was then thrown out trying to take third for the second out but senior Buck McCarthy (Saugus, Mass.) restarted the inning as he worked a walk. Bingel followed with an RBI double to dead center and senior AJ Zarozny (Shrewsbury, Mass.) made it 4-0 with a single to left.
The Bulldogs closed their scoring with three more runs in the eighth. Rinn singled, McCarthy was hit by a pitch and Zarozny walked to load the bases with one out. Rinn and McCarthy would both score on wild pitches and freshman Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) capped the inning with a two-out RBI single to center.
Albanese (2-5, R), Rinn (2-4, RBI, R) and Bingel (2-4, 2RBI, R) all finished the game with two hits, while McCarthy scored twice. Bryant finished the game with four extra-base hits.
Bryce Nightengale suffered the loss for George Mason after allowing four runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out one. Both Patriot hits were doubles.
Bryant will head back south next weekend as it begins its Spring Break trip with a three-game weekend series against the University of Maryland. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.