Bulldogs drop spring break finale, 6-2

RICHMOND, Va. – The Bryant University baseball team dropped the final game of its eight-game spring break trip, 6-2, to the University of Toledo on Sunday morning at Pitt Field.

Sunday's game was scoreless through the first seven innings before the Rockets plated five runs in the top of the eighth to break the tie. The Bulldogs finished their spring trip with a 5-3 record and are now 9-8 on the year.

Junior Vito Morgese (Warwick, R.I.) worked seven scoreless before the first four batters reached against him in the eighth. He finished the day allowing four runs on six hits, with one walk and six strikeouts.

Redshirt sophomore Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) provided Bryant's only offense of the day with a two-run home run in the eighth.   

Game Information
Toledo 6, Bryant 2
Records: Bryant (9-8), Toledo (9-9)
Location: Pitt Field (Richmond, Va.)
W|L|S: Layne Schnitz-Paxton (2-1) | Vito Morgese (0-2)

Key Moment

• In a tie game, Toledo's 7-8-9 hitters all reached to start the inning before a single and a bases-loaded walk broke the scoreless deadlock.     

How it Happened

• Morgese kept Toledo off the board by pitching around leadoff doubles in the first and sixth innings.
• Bryant's best chance to score came in the seventh as they put runners on the corners with two outs.
• In the eighth, a leadoff walk was followed by an infield single. The Rockets then bunted back to the mound but Bryant's throw to third was late, loading the bases. Brad Boss then singled home the first run. A pair of bases-loaded walks, a single and a sac fly tacked on the final four runs.  
• Bryant plated two runs in the bottom of the eighth as senior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) singled and Ward followed with a two-run home run to right field.
• The Rockets extended the lead in the top of the ninth as Riley Campbell singled, stole second, went to third on a bunt and scored on a single.

Stats

• Morgese allowed four runs on six hits, walked one and struck out six. He threw 71 of his 97 pitches for strikes.
• Sophomore Will Treuel (Wolfeboro, N.H.) recorded all three outs in the eighth, walking one and allowing one hit.
• Redshirt junior Jack Owens (Scituate, R.I.) recorded the final two outs of the ninth.
• Ward went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run.  

Notes and Notables

• Bryant and Toledo were meeting for the first time in program history.
• Bryant finished its spring break trip with a 5-3 record.
• Bryant hit 10 home runs this week and now has 19 on the year.
• Morgese's six strikeouts were a season high.
• Ward's home run was his second of the year and the 12th of his career.
• Ward has hit safely in six-straight games and has 12 hits during the streak.
• Angelini had a hit and scored a run in each of the three games of the Spider Invitational. 
• Jack Owens now has six scoreless outings on the season. 

Up Next

Bryant opens its Northern schedule on Wednesday when it travels to the University of Hartford for a midweek game. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.