Bulldogs welcome Boston College on Wednesday afternoon
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team opens a 10-game homestand on Wednesday afternoon when it welcomes Boston College to Conaty Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
LINKS
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Chris Wright (0-4, 10.64) vs. Jack Nelson (3-1, 2.40)
Wright will make his eighth start of the season on Wednesday and is still in search of his first collegiate victory. He has struck out 27 in 22 innings but has also walked 23. Wright allowed one run on two hits, walked three and struck out four in a two-inning start last Tuesday at Quinnipiac.
Nelson will be making his fifth start for BC and has walked 13 and struck out 23 in 30 innings. He surrendered three runs on seven hits over three innings against Dartmouth last week and has given up 11 runs (5 earned) over his last 9 2/3 innings. Prior to that, Nelson allowed just three earned runs over his first 20 1/3 innings.
SERIES HISTORY
Bryant and BC will be meeting for the 11th time on Wednesday. The Eagles hold a 7-3 lead in the all-time series but the Bulldogs were victorious last year, winning 18-6 in Chestnut Hill. Bryant recorded 20 hits in the game and then-senior Zach Wood had five hits and five RBI. The Black and Gold have also won the most recent meeting in Smithfield, defeating BC 13-2 back in 2013.
NOTES AND NOTABLES FOR BOSTON COLLEGE
Bryant is now 13-4 in the month of April after splitting its four-game series at Central Connecticut. In six-plus seasons under head coach Steve Owens, the Bulldogs are 103-35 in the month of April.
The Bulldogs are 4-1 in midweek games this season and 43-24 all-time under coach Owens.
Bryant is hitting just .252 as a team on the season. The Bulldogs, however, have bumped that up to .272 over their last 18 games. Bryant is 14-4 in its last 18.
The Black and Gold are 7-1 at home this season and will play 10-straight games at Conaty Park starting on Wednesday. Bryant is 93-31 at home under Owens and 22-4 in the last two years.
Junior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) was named the NEC Player of the Week after driving in 10 runs in five games. He leads the NEC with 36 RBI on the year. In his last 12, Gasper's hitting .372 with 19 RBI and 16 runs scored.
Classmate Jack Patterson (Suffield, Conn.) picked up his third save of the season over the weekend, tossing four scoreless innings of relief. He allowed just one hit, walked three and struck out five. Patterson has now tossed eight-straight scoreless innings and has allowed just two hits. He is now 1-0 with three saves, 18 strikeouts and a 4.08 ERA in 17 2/3 innings.
Freshman Jimmy Titus (Stafford, Conn.) nearly hit for the cycle on Saturday, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. He finished a double shy of the cycle. Over his last 10, Titus is hitting .390 (16-41) with six doubles, five RBI and 12 runs scored.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Boston College swept a three-game series from ACC foe NC State over the weekend. The Eagles and Wolfpack played at Fenway Park on Saturday as part of ALS Awareness. BC is 15-22 overall and 6-15 in ACC play this season, posting a team average of .246 and a team ERA of 5.26.
Jake Alu is the only regular hitting over .300 (.336), while Gian Martellini leads the team with 11 doubles, three home runs and 26 RBI. Michael Strem has nine doubles and 23 RBI. Casey Donovan leads the team with 41 hits and eight stolen bases.