Powers escapes jam, Bulldogs complete weekend sweep of CCSU, 5-4

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Redshirt junior Oliver Powers (Newtown, Conn.) got a strikeout and a fly ball to center to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning as the Bryant University baseball team held on to defeat Central Connecticut State 5-4 in game two of Saturday's doubleheader at the CCSU Baseball Field.

With the win, the Bulldogs (14-4, 4-0 NEC) complete the weekend sweep of the Blue Devils (5-11, 0-4). Bryant is now 22-7 all-time against the Central Connecticut. The two teams will meet again from May 13-15 in Smithfield.

Bryant led 5-3 heading into the ninth inning but the first two Blue Devil hitters reached against closer Logan Lessard (Cromwell, Conn.) to make things interesting. Nick Landell moved the runners into scoring position with a sac bunt and Franklin Jennings made it a one-run game with a bloop single shallow left. Jennings then took second and Bryant decided to intentionally walk Dean Lockery to load the bases.

The Black and Gold then summoned Powers from the bullpen to get the final two outs. He went to a full count against Connor Fitzsimons before throwing a fastball by him for the second out. Powers then got Ryan Costello to fly out to center to end the game and complete the four-game sweep of the Blue Devils.

Bryant scored in the first inning for the second time today and led 3-0 after three innings before the Blue Devils chipped into the lead. In the first, junior Matt Albanese (East Haddam, Conn.) drove an 0-1 fastball over the right field wall for his first home run of the season.

In the third, junior Joe Paparelli (Preston, Conn.) walked to open the inning and senior Dan Cellucci (Sudbury, Mass.) followed with a perfectly executed slash, hitting a bouncing single over the head of the charging third baseman. A sac bunt advanced both runners into scoring position and Albanese hit a two-strike single to right-center to score a run. Senior Robby Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) followed with a ground ball to first to score a second run and make it 3-0.

Central made it a one-run game with two runs in the fourth. With two outs and runners on first and second, Matt Martinez hit a hard ground ball up the middle that Cellucci was able to slide and stop. He then flipped it to junior Cole Fabio (Mahwah, N.J.) at second but the ump ruled he came off the bag. With the inning extended, David Balunek knocked a single through the right side to bring home two runs.

The Black and Gold quickly responded with a run in the top of the fifth to push the lead back to two. Fabio reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, stole third and then scampered home as the throw went into left field.

Bryant then used executed situational hitting perfectly in the eighth to add a key run. Albanese was hit by a pitch with one out and then took off for second on a hit and run. Rinn swung at the pitch and hit a ground ball through the vacancy on the left side of the infield to put runners on the corners. Junior Brandon Bingel (Peabody, Mass.) then laid down a perfect safety squeeze to score Albanese and make it 5-2.

Freshman Steve Theetge (Cicero, N.Y.) started for the Bulldogs and pitched five solid innings to earn his second win of the week. He allowed two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out five. The five strikeouts are a career-high for the rookie lefty. Senior Michael Marshall (Maynard, Mass.) and sophomore Justin Snyder (Georgetown, Mass.) followed with a scoreless inning of relief each. Lessard allowed two runs on three hits and walked three in 1 1/3 innings of relief.

Albanese finished 2-for-2 with two RBI, two runs scored and reached base all four times. Cellucci also finished with two hits for the Black and Gold.

CCSU freshman righty Mike Appel went seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits. He walked three and struck out three. Balunek had two hits and two RBI for the Blue Devils.

The Bulldogs, off to their best start in program history, will open their home schedule on Wednesday when they welcome the University of Hartford to Conaty Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.