Bryant travels to Virginia Tech this weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team heads to Blacksburg, Virginia, for a three-game series with Virginia Tech this weekend.  

The Particulars
Opponent: Virginia Tech
Location: English Field at Union Park (Blacksburg, Va.)
Date and Times: Mar. 1 – 3:00 p.m. | Mar. 2 – 2:00 p.m. | Mar. 3 – 12:00 p.m.
Watch: Gm 1 (ACC Network Extra) | Gm 2 (ACC Network Extra) | Gm 3 (Watch ESPN)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Game Notes: Bryant
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #TCD | #NECBASE

Pitching Probables
Friday – RHP Tyler Mattison (1-1, 6.75) vs. LHP Ian Seymour (2-0, 0.90)
Saturday – LHP Steve Theetge (1-0, 1.64) vs. LHP Chris Gerard (0-0, 1.08)
Sunday – LHP Vito Morgese (0-1, 7.11) vs. Luke Scherzer (1-0, 3.68)

Bryant's weekend rotation will feature the same three starters but in a different order as Theetge moves to Saturday. The veteran left hander has delivered two strong outings to start the year, tossing six scoreless innings at Abilene Christian before limiting No. 1 LSU to three runs (two earned) over five innings last Sunday.   

Virginia Tech will counter with a pair of underclassmen lefties and a fifth-year senior. Seymour has struck out 10 in 10 innings and owns a 0.90 ERA, while Gerard has walked one and struck out five in the first two appearances of his collegiate career.   

Series History

• Bryant and Virginia Tech will be meeting for the first time since the 2011 season.
• The two teams have played seven games, with the Bulldogs posting a 4-3 record in the series.
• Bryant won the first-ever meeting in 2009, the two teams split a two-game series in 2010 and then split a four-game series in Blacksburg in 2011.   

Bulldog Notes and Notables

• The Bulldogs enter the weekend at 2-4 overall after dropping all three games at No. 1 LSU last weekend.
• Bryant is hitting .262 and averaging 7.0 runs per game. On the mound, the Bulldogs have posted a 6.12 team ERA.
• The Black and Gold also rank 18th nationally with 2.50 stolen bases per game. Bryant stole just 49 bases last season, an average of 1.14 per game.
• Sophomore Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) was named the Northeast Conference Player of the Week on Tuesday. He went 4-for-12 with two doubles, a home run and four RBI at No. 1 LSU.
• Owens is hitting .350 with two doubles, two home runs, six RBI and six runs scored in five games.
• Junior Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.) leads the Bulldogs with a .375 average and has a .474 OBP.
• Freshman Jake Gustin (Peabody, Mass.) has three extra-base hits, five RBI, seven runs scored and a .444 OBP in his first six collegiate games.
• Junior James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) is hitting just .200 (4-20) but leads the Bulldogs in runs scored (8), walks (7), HBP (3), OBP (.452) and stolen bases (4).  

Scouting the Hokies

• Virginia Tech is off to a 7-0 start for just the fourth time in program history and for the first time since 1987.
• Ryan Fecteau, Bryant's pitching coach from 2011-2016, is in his second season with the Tech coaching staff.
• The Hokies are hitting .302 as a team and have posted a 2.57 team ERA.
• Carson Taylor is hitting .423 with four doubles and nine runs scored, while Kerry Carpenter and Luke Horanski have each hit three home runs.   

Up Next

The Bulldogs open their eight-game spring break trip with a three-game series at CAA preseason favorite Elon. Bryant and Elon begin their series on Friday, March 8.