Bulldogs fall to UConn on Tuesday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored but the Bryant University baseball team fell to the University of Connecticut, 11-6, on Tuesday afternoon at Conaty Park.

Tuesday's game was called due to darkness after UConn batted in the top of the eighth. The Huskies scored three times in the top of the inning and the stats counted in accordance with the NCAA rules.

Ciliento homered and doubled for the Black and Gold on Tuesday. Redshirt sophomore Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) had two hits, including a double, and senior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) had two hits and two runs scored.  

Game Information
UConn 11, Bryant 6
Records: Bryant (20-11), UConn (20-12)
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Karl Johnson (1-0) | Craig Lacey (2-1)

Key Moment

• After Bryant took a 3-2 lead in the fourth, Anthony Prato and Christian Fedko each drove in a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to give UConn a lead it would not relinquish.   

How it Happened

• Bryant scored first on Tuesday as Ward doubled to open the game, stole third and scored on a sac fly from classmate Jimmy Titus (Stafford, Conn.).
• It remained 1-0 until the top of the fourth when Fedko tied the game with an RBI double. Chris Winkel followed with an RBI single to give the Huskies the lead.
• Bryant answered in the bottom of the fourth as Ciliento quickly tied the game with his sixth home run of the year. A single and two walks then loaded the bases and Ward brought home a run with a fielder's choice.
• In the top of the fifth, two singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases and Prato plated two with a bloop single to left. After an infield error reloaded the bases, Fedko doubled to left to score two more.
• The Huskies added two more runs in the sixth on a wild pitch and a sac fly.
• Bryant pulled within two with a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh. The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the sixth before a fielder's choice plated a run.
• In the seventh, junior Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) tripled and scored on a Ciliento double to open the inning. Ciliento would come around to score on an Angelini ground out.   

Stats

• UConn outhit Bryant, 13-9.
• Freshman John MacDonald (Stamford, Conn.) started for the Bulldogs and allowed two runs on three hits and walked two over four innings.
• Senior Craig Lacey (Westfield, Mass.) allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and suffered his first loss of the season.
• Junior Jack Ipsen (Eatontown, N.J.) tossed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
• Ward finished 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
• Wright tripled and scored a run.
• Ciliento went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.     

Notes and Notables

• Bryant falls to 4-7-1 all-time against UConn.
• Each of the last two meetings between Bryant and UConn has ended because of darkness.
• Titus now has 29 RBI in his last 14 games and has 41 on the season.
• Ciliento extended his career high in home runs with his sixth of the year. He also clubbed his team-leading 10th double of the year.
• Wright hit his first triple since April of his freshman season.  

Up Next

Bryant travels to Brown on Wednesday afternoon to face the Bears. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.