Gasper delivers game-winning hit as Bryant defeats FDU, 11-9, in extras

TEANECK, N.J. – Sophomore Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) delivered a pinch-hit, two-out RBI double to break a 9-9 tie in the top of the ninth as the Bryant University baseball team escaped with an 11-9 extra-inning victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in game one of a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.

The Bulldogs (19-6, 8-1 NEC) led 8-3 after 5 1/2 innings and 9-7 in the bottom of the seventh but the Knights (14-14, 5-5) made them work for the victory, tying the game in the bottom of the seventh to force extras.

After missing out on a chance to take the lead in the eighth, the Black and Gold were able to rally with two outs and no one on in the ninth. Freshman Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) walked with two outs and Gasper then drilled a pinch-hit double into the left-center gap and Angelini raced around the bases to give the Bulldogs the lead. Senior Dan Cellucci (Sudbury, Mass.) followed with a single back up the middle and Gasper chugged around from second to make it 11-9.

FDU sent the game to extras with a furious rally over the final two innings of regulation. Trailing 8-3 in the sixth, Bobby Romano doubled, Joel Roman walked and Shane Siebler singled to left to load the bases with one out. Dylan Sprague then worked a full count before hitting a grand slam to right center to make it 8-7.

The Bulldogs then added what would be a key insurance run in the top of the seventh before the Knights completed the rally in the bottom of the seventh. Evan McDonald and Romano both singled with one out and Roman followed with a double into the right field corner to score both and tie the game.

Sunday's first game was a back-and-forth affair from the start. Bryant was the first to score, plating two runs in its first at-bat. Junior Cole Fabio (Mahwah, N.J.) singled to open the game and then advanced to third as senior Robby Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) hit a fly ball to left-center that got lost in the sun and fell for a double. Junior Matt Albanese (East Haddam, Conn.) then followed with a sharp-single to center to plate both and make it 2-0.

FDU responded in the bottom of the first as the first four Knights reached safely. Back-to-back singles and a hit batter loaded the bases before Ryan Brennan drove in a run with a single to center. McDonald then hit into a 6-4-3 double play to bring in a second run and tie the game at 2-2.

The Bulldogs retook the lead in the third on an RBI double from junior Brandon Bingel (Peabody, Mass.). Freshman Malik Daley (Northborough, Mass.) was hit by a pitch in his first-career plate appearance and then raced around from first on Bingel's double to right-center to make it 3-2.

It didn't take long for the Knights to respond as they tied the game in the very next half inning. Sprague reached on an infield error to start the inning and then advanced to second on a balk. John Giakas then brought him home with a double to right center.

Bryant then used a pair of two-run home runs to build a 7-3 lead. Senior Buck McCarthy (Saugus, Mass.) walked to start the fourth and advanced to second on a sac bunt from Angelini. Senior Zach Wood (Griswold, Conn.) then hammered the first pitch from FDU starter Corey Zeller well over the centerfield fence to make it 5-3.

In the fifth, Albanese fell behind 1-2 in the count but battled back to earn a two-out walk and extend the inning. McCarthy made it hut as he turned on a 2-0 pitch and sent it over the leftfield wall to make it 7-3. It was his first home run since the opening game of the season.

Bryant extended its lead to 8-3 in the sixth on a Bingel single but the Knights began their rally in the bottom half of the inning.

Bryant had a chance to retake the lead in the eighth as it loaded the bases with one out. Junior Jacob Marotta (Bridgewater, Mass.) was hit by a pitch and Cellucci laid down a perfect bunt that was let go and rolled along the first base chalk for a single. Daley then laid down a sac bunt to advance the runners and Fabio was intentionally walked to load the bases. FDU reliever Tim Quinn buckled down to strikeout Bingel swinging before getting Rinn to hit into the shift for the final out.  

Senior James Davitt (Wallingford, Conn.) started for the Bulldogs and allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out two. Classmate Michael Marshall (Maynard, Mass.) got the final two outs of the sixth before handing the ball to sophomore closer Justin Snyder (Georgetown, Mass.) in the seventh. Snyder blew his first save of the season but rebounded to pitch the final three innings to earn his first win of the year. He allowed two runs on four hits and struck out three.

McCarthy finished the game 1-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Bingel (2-5, 2RBI), Rinn (2-5, 2R, 22B), Albanese (2-4, 2RBI) and Cellucci (2-4, RBI) all chipped in two hits. In his first-career start, Daley reached base three times with two hit by pitches and a walk.

Zeller started for FDU and allowed eight runs on six hits and struck out six over 5 1/3 innings. Quinn suffered his first loss of the season, allowing two runs on four hits over 2 1/3 innings of relief. Sprague finished the game 2-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored.