Bryant slugs way to 15-4 win over CCSU

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Sophomore Tyler Mattison (Fort Ann, N.Y.) allowed just three runs over seven innings and eight players posted multiple hits as the Bryant University baseball team defeated Central Connecticut, 15-4, in the first game of a Northeast Conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon.

With the win, the Bulldogs secured a series victory over the Blue Devils. The two teams will play the third game of their series on Friday afternoon.

Mattison earned his sixth win of the year on Friday after striking out five over seven innings. He didn't walk a batter and allowed three runs on eight hits.

Classmate Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) led the offensive barrage as he finished a double shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Redshirt sophomores Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) and Jimmy Titus (Stafford, Conn.), junior James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) and seniors Tyler Panno (Rivervale, N.J.) and Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) all chipped in three hits and two others finished with two hits.

Game Information
Bryant 15, Central Connecticut 4
Records: Bryant (27-12, 9-2 NEC), Central Connecticut (15-14, 5-6 NEC)
Location: CCSU Baseball Field (New Britain, Conn.)
W|L|S: Tyler Mattison (6-1) | Brandon Fox (1-4)

Key Moment

• Leading 3-0 in the fifth, Bryant scored six runs with two outs to open up a 9-0 lead.  

How it Happened

• Ward gave the Bulldogs an instant lead as he hit the second pitch of the game over the center field fence for his seventh home run of the year. Bryant would add a second run on a fielder's choice from Ciliento.
• Owens extended Bryant's lead with a long home run to left field in the top of the fourth.
• In the fifth, the Black and Gold posted six-straight two-out hits to score six runs. Ciliento drove in the first run with an opposite field single, Owens followed with an RBI triple to right field and Angelini scored a run with an infield single to third. After a single from freshman Brian Nicolas (Langhorne, Pa.) put runners on the corners, a double steal produced the fourth run of the inning. Panno then doubled home a run and sophomore Shane Kelly's (Sewell, N.J.) second hit of the inning scored Panno with the final run.
• After Central plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth, Bryant answered with three more in the top of the sixth. A walk and a single opened the inning before Angelini drove in a run with a single to center. Nicolas followed with a sac fly to left center and Panno made it 12-2 with a single to right.
• Titus hit a line drive home run to left field in the top of the seventh.
• Bryant closed its scoring in the ninth as Ciliento hit a two-run home run to left center.

Stats

• Bryant outhit CCSU, 22-12.
• The Bulldogs hit four home runs, a triple and three doubles in the contest.
• Mattison allowed three runs on eight hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out five. He also induced two double plays.
• Owens finished 3-for-5 with a triple, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored.
• Ward was 3-for-5 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored.
• Panno was 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored.
• Nicolas finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
• Titus finished 3-for-6 with a home run.
• Ciliento went 3-for-6 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored.
• Angelini finished 3-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored.
• Kelly was 2-for-6 with two runs scored.

Notes and Notables

• Bryant is now 36-11 against CCSU. The Bulldogs have won four of the five meetings this year and have scored double-digit runs in all four wins.
• Bryant has now won or tied 67 of its 71 NEC series.
• Bryant hit four home runs in the game and now has 62 on the year.
• The Bulldogs have now homered in 12-straight games and have hit multiple home runs in six-straight. Both are the longest such streaks in program history.
• Bryant scored double-digit runs for the sixth-straight game and for the 10th time in the last 12 games.
• Bryant's 22 hits are the third-most in a game in DI program history.
• Ward now has 25 hits over his last 11 games. He's hit safely in all 11 of those contests.
• Ward's home run was his seventh of the year and the 17th of his career. He's tied for fifth in DI program history.   
• Ward has now hit a home run to lead off the game four times in his career.
• Titus hit his league-leading 10th home run of the year. He is just the third player in DI program history to hit 10+ home runs in a season and the first since Matt Albanese in 2016.
• Ciliento's home run was his ninth of the year. He now has 45 RBI and 52 runs scored
• Ciliento's 52 runs scored are tied for the seventh-most in a single-season in program history.
• Angelini's two runs scored give him 171 in his career, just one shy of tying the program record.
• Owens posted his 14th multi-hit game of the year and hit his sixth home run of the year.
• With a walk, junior Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) has now reached safely in 28-straight games.
• Panno's three hits were a season high and he now has six career three-hit games.
• Nicolas has posted multiple hits in five of his last seven starts.
• Mattison has allowed three runs or less in each of his last four starts. In those four starts, he's walked only two and struck out 20.
• Mattison improved to 11-3 in his career and 7-2 against NEC opponents.

Up Next

Bryant and Central Connecticut wrap up their series with the second game of a doubleheader.