Palazzo's pinch-hit single helps Bulldogs complete sweep of Wagner Sunday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Daniel Palazzo (Rocky Hill, Conn.) broke a 1-1 tie with a pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the seventh and the Bryant University baseball team went on to complete the weekend sweep of Wagner with a 5-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at Conaty Park.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 24-7 overall and 13-1 in Northeast Conference play. The Seahawks (10-22, 5-11) have now lost their last 11 league games after starting the season 5-0. Bryant is now 23-7 all-time against Wagner.

Sunday's finale was tied at 1-1 until Bryant was finally able to break the deadlock in the seventh thanks to a clutch pinch-hit single from Palazzo. With a runner on second and one out, Palazzo stepped to the dish and knocked a single through the left side to score senior Zach Wood (Griswold, Conn.) from second to make it 2-1.

The Black and Gold then tacked on three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Senior Robby Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) walked to start the inning and then advanced to third on a double from junior Matt Albanese (East Haddam, Conn.). The Bulldogs eventually loaded the bases and a wild pitch brought home Albanese to make it 3-1. Senior Dan Cellucci (Sudbury, Mass.) capped the inning with a two-run single that fell in down the right field line.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run in the first. Junior Cole Fabio (Mahwah, N.J.) opened the game with a sharp single to right field and promptly stole second. Freshman Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) followed with a single to left-center to bring Fabio home for the first run.

Wagner was able to tie the game in the fourth with one swing of the bat. Ben Ruta laced a home run over the right field wall to tie the game. A hit batter, a single and a walk then loaded the bases but Bryant starter Steve Theetge (Cicero, N.Y.) induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

The score remained tied until the eighth inning thanks to strong pitching from Theetge and senior reliever Michael Marshall (Maynard, Mass.). Theetge stranded a runner on third in the fifth and then worked around a two-out walk in the sixth to end his outing. Marshall came on in the seventh and had to escape trouble as the Seahawks loaded the bases with two outs on a single, a walk and a hit batter. Marshall buckled down and got Ruta to pop out to second to end the inning.

Theetge pitched six solid innings but earned a no decision. He allowed one run on three hits, walked two and struck out one on the afternoon. Marshall earned his first win of the season, striking out four batters over two scoreless innings of relief. Sophomore Logan Lessard (Cromwell, Conn.) pitched a scoreless ninth to close the door.

Angelini and Albanese each finished with two hits on the afternoon, while Rinn extended his on-base streak to 27 games.

Matt Morris was the tough-luck loser for Wagner, allowing two runs on six hits over seven-plus innings. He walked four and struck out four. Sean Mazzio was the only Seahawk to register multiple hits, finishing with two.

The Bulldogs return to the field on Tuesday when they travel to Boston to take on Northeastern. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.