Bulldogs top team in New England for 4th-straight week; face UConn Wednesday in Storrs

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Fresh off a series victory over Fairleigh Dickinson last weekend, the Bryant University baseball team travels to Storrs, Conn., to take on New England rival the University of Connecticut on Wednesday at J.O. Christian Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs (20-6) enter Wednesday's contest as the top-ranked team in New England for the fourth-straight week. Bryant received seven first-place votes in the NEIBA poll released on Monday to retain the top billing. The Huskies (14-15) are ranked fifth in the most recent NEIBA poll.

Wednesday's mid-week contest will be the ninth meeting between Bryant and UConn, with the Huskies holding a 5-3 lead in the all-time series. UConn won the first three meetings but the Black and Gold have on three of the last five meetings. All five Huskie wins have been emphatic, as they have been by an average of 8.6 runs. UConn earned its most lop-sided win in the series last spring with an 18-5 win at Conaty Park. Bryant is 1-1 in two trips to Storrs.

Bryant enters the game after an impressive showing in the series finale at FDU in which they scored 19 runs on 23 hits and hit a program record seven home runs. In four games, the Bulldogs hit .358, scored 39 runs and collected 11 doubles and 10 home runs. Senior Buck McCarthy (Saugus, Mass.) and juniors Brandon Bingel (Peabody, Mass.) and Matt Albanese (East Haddam, Conn.) stole the show on Sunday as all three hit two home runs, a first in Division I program history. McCarthy's performance was a welcomed sight for the Black and Gold as he broke out of a three-week long slump to go 5-for-10 with three home runs and seven RBI in two games on Sunday.

The Bulldogs are now averaging an NEC-best 6.9 runs per game and bumped their team average up to .293. Albanese and senior Robby Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) have been two of the best hitters in the NEC this season as they rank 1-2 in RBI and runs scored. Albanese leads the league in runs scored (30) and is second in RBI (26), while Rinn leads the league in RBI (31) and is tied for second in runs scored (23).

Freshman Craig Lacey (Westfield, Mass.) is scheduled to make his first-career start on Wednesday for the Bulldogs. Lacey has made five relief appearances this year, posting a 6.75 ERA in four innings. He made his collegiate debut against Monmouth on opening weekend but hasn't pitched in a game since Mar. 13 at Maryland.

UConn enters with a 14-15 overall record and a 2-3 mark in the American Athletic Conference. The Huskies are hitting .273 as a team and average 6.3 runs per game. Willy Yahn leads the team with a .315 average, 10 doubles, 17 RBI and 23 runs scored, while Jack Sundberg is hitting .311 with a team-high 28 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. UConn features two bona fide run producers in Bobby Melley and Joe DeRoche-Duffin. Melley has four home runs and 28 RBI, while DeRoche-Duffin has five home runs and 24 RBI.

With Rinn and Melley, Wednesday's game will feature two of the best first baseman in New England. Melley was the New England Player of the Year in 2014 and Rinn took home First Team All-New England honors last spring. They both have over 200 career hits and both have the chance to set school RBI records.

On the mound, the Huskies will either throw Sam Nepiarsky or Ronnie Rossomando. Nepiarsky is 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA in seven appearances. He has struck out 11 and walked six in 12 2/3 innings. Rossomando has made eight appearances and four starts on the year, going 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 24 innings.