Top two teams in Northeast meet on Wednesday in Storrs

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team travels to Storrs, Connecticut, on Wednesday for a midweek contest against regional rival UConn. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

Bryant is currently ranked No. 3 in the most recent NEIBA New England poll, while UConn is ranked No. 1.

The Particulars

Opponent: UConn

Location: J.O. Christian Field (Storrs, Conn.)

Times: 3:00 p.m.

Live Stats: UConnHuskies.com

Video: UConnHuskies.com

Audio: UConnHuskies.com

Game Notes: Bryant | UConn

Pitching Probables

Matthew Stansky (2-0, 4.22) vs. Joe Simeone (0-0, 8.31)

A pair of freshman righties will square off on Wednesday afternoon in Storrs. Matthew Stansky (Douglas, Mass.) will make his third midweek start of the year for the Black and Gold, while Simeone will be making his first-career start for the Huskies.

Stansky is 2-0 with a 4.22 ERA in 10 2/3 innings this spring. He has allowed 14 hits, walked nine and struck out seven on the year. Simeone has allowed five runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Series History

• UConn holds a 6-4 lead in the all-time Division I series.
• Bryant won the most recent meeting, defeating then-No. 25 UConn, 9-3, last year at Conaty Park. The Bulldogs used an eight-run sixth inning to earn the victory.
• The Black and Gold are 1-2 at J.O. Christian Field.   

Best in the Northeast

• Bryant and UConn are two of the best teams in the Northeast over the last decade.
• Entering 2018, the Bulldogs own the best winning percentage of any Northeast team since 2010 (.639), while the Huskies have the most wins of any Northeast team since 2010 (292).  

Bulldog Notes and Notables

• The Bulldogs enter Wednesday's game with an overall record of 14-14 after a 3-1 weekend in Brooklyn.
• Bryant outscored LIU Brooklyn 44-12 over the weekend, clubbing 16 doubles in four games.
• The Bulldogs' pitching staff has combined to post a 2.83 ERA, 103 strikes and just 44 walks over the last 12 games (101 2/3 innings).
• Redshirt freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week for the fourth time this season on Monday after he went 10-for-17 with six doubles, four RBI and eight runs scored against LIU. In a Saturday doubleheader, Ward doubled five times.
• Ward's weekend now puts him third nationally in hits per game and 10th nationally in batting average. He's hitting .412 with 49 hits, 12 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 24 RBI and 25 runs scored.
• Ward is also working on a 14-game hitting streak and a 24-game on-base streak. He has reached safely in 27 of Bryant's 28 games this season.
• Sophomore James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) was named the NEC Player of the Week on Monday after he drove in 12 runs in four games. He went 8-for-16 with three doubles, two home runs and seven runs scored. Ciliento broke out with four hits, two home runs and a career-high six RBI in the final game of the LIU series.
• Ciliento is second in the league behind Ward with 40 hits and is now tied for second on the team with 18 RBI.
• Classmate Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) went 7-for-15 with a double, two home runs, six RBI and eight runs scored last weekend vs. LIU. He's now hitting .284 with four home runs, 14 RBI and 16 runs scored.
• Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.), another sophomore, extended his on-base streak to 14 games over the weekend. He's now hitting .390 with five doubles, 14 RBI and a .443 OBP.   

Scouting the Huskies

• UConn enters Wednesday's game fresh off a series victory over No. 22 UCF. The Huskies swept a Sunday doubleheader that began at 8:30 a.m.
• The Huskies come in hitting .266 as a team and have posted a team ERA of 3.84.
• Thad Phillips leads the team with a .333 average in 18 starts, while Zac Susi is hitting .323 with 13 RBI and a .402 OBP.
• Isaac Feldstein leads the team with six doubles, eight home runs, 23 RBI and 25 runs scored.