Angelini delivers walk-off single in 10th as Bulldogs beat Northeastern on Wednesday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) delivered a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the 10th as the Bryant University baseball team defeated Northeastern, 5-4, on Wednesday afternoon at Conaty Park.

Wednesday's walk-off win is the second-straight for the Bulldogs (22-21), who are back over .500 for the first time since the opening weekend of the season. It is also the 12th time this season Bryant has come from behind to win a game. The Bulldogs have now won seven-straight against the Huskies (22-19).

Junior Malik Daley (Northborough, Mass.) got things going in the 10th with a sharp one-out single to center. He stole second with two outs and senior Cole Fabio (Mahwah, N.J.) was hit by a pitch to bring Angelini to the plate. Angelini laced the 1-1 pitch into left and into the stiff wind. The wind knocked the ball down and Northeastern left fielder Cam Walsh could not make a diving play on it, allowing Daley to score from second with the winning run.

Bryant fell behind early for the fourth time in the last five games on Wednesday. A single and a walk opened the game for the Huskies and Ryan Solomon scored both with a one-out double off the wall in left field.

Northeastern added to its lead with an unearned run in the second. Michael Geaslen led off with a single and David Hopkins bunted the next pitch back to the mound. Bryant starter Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) tried to get the lead runner at second but threw wildly. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners and Mason Koppens scored a run with a ground ball to second.

The Bulldogs got a run back in the third with a two-out RBI single Angelini. Freshman James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) opened the inning with a double down the left field line and senior Joe Paparelli (Preston, Conn.) beat out a perfect bunt for a single to put runners on the corners. Paparelli was caught stealing and a strikeout followed for the first two outs before Fabio extended the inning with a walk. Angelini then chopped one through the left side to score a run.

Northeastern and Bryant then traded fourth-inning runs. The Huskies opened the top of the fourth with three-straight single to load the bases. Charlie McConnell then delivered a sac fly to left to make it 4-1.

Bryant's run in the bottom of the fourth came without the benefit of a hit. Wright and freshmen Jimmy Titus (Stafford, Conn.) walked to open the inning and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Ciliento delivered a sac fly to center to make it 4-2.

The Bulldogs erased the deficit with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Ciliento opened the inning with a single up the middle, took second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a single to right from senior Jacob Marotta (Bridgewater, Mass.). Fabio made it a one-run game with a sac fly and junior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) tied the game with a two-out single down the right field line.

Wright lasted just two innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits. Junior Matt Knych (Lincoln, R.I.), freshman Jack Ipsen (Eatontown, N.J.), sophomore Craig Lacey (Westfield, Mass.), junior Logan Lessard (Cromwell, Conn.) and sophomore Nathan Wrighter (Windsor, N.Y.) combined to allow just three hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Wrighter retired all four batters he faced to pick up his second win.

Angelini had two hits and two RBI, Ciliento had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored and Marotta had two hits and a run scored for the Bulldogs.

Northeastern used six pitchers in the ballgame. Tom Githens pitched the first three innings, allowing one run on four hits. Brian Rodriguez took the loss, allowing one run on three hits over 2 2/3 innings. Geaslen led the Huskies with three hits.

The Bulldogs return to Northeast Conference play on Friday when they open a four-game series with Mount St. Mary's. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.