Theetge's CG shutout leads Bryant past SHU, 4-0

NORWICH, Conn. – Senior Steve Theetge (Syracuse, N.Y.) turned in one of the best performances of his career on Thursday as he pitched a complete-game three-hit shutout to lead the top-seeded Bryant University baseball team to a 4-0 victory over fourth-seeded Sacred Heart in the first game of the 2019 Northeast Conference Baseball Championships.

With the win, Bryant advances to the winners bracket final on Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. The Bulldogs will face either second-seeded Central Connecticut or third-seeded Wagner.

Theetge allowed just three hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out nine in the first nine-inning performance of his career on Thursday. He needed just 99 pitches to become the first Bulldog pitcher since Craig Schlitter in 2014 to throw a complete game in the NEC Tournament.

The Bulldogs received hits from eight of their nine batters in the lineup, with redshirt sophomore Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) and senior Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) each posting two. Redshirt sophomore Sam Owens (Scituate, R.I.) drove in a run and scored a run.

Game Information
Bryant 4, Sacred Heart 0
Records: Bryant (39-18), Sacred Heart (19-33-1)
Location: Dodd Stadium (Norwich, Conn.)
W|L|S: Steve Theetge (9-2) | John Cerrentani (4-1)

Key Moment

• After a double play appeared to end a Bryant rally in the fourth, junior Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) delivered a two-out RBI single to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.

How it Happened

• Bryant broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth. The first batters of the inning singled but the Pioneers were able to turn a double play to put a man on third. Wright followed with a hard ground ball through the right side to make it 1-0.
• The Bulldogs then added a pair of unearned runs in the fifth. Owens reached on an error to start the inning and scored all the way from first as junior Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.) doubled into the left field corner. Cruz then came around to score on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
• In the sixth, redshirt sophomore Jimmy Titus (Stafford, Conn.) singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored as Owens singled through the left side with two outs.

Stats

• Bryant outhit Sacred Heart, 10-3.
• Theetge allowed just three hits, didn't issue a walk and struck out nine.
• Ward finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Angelini went 2-for-4.
• Titus was 1-for-4 with a run scored.
• Wright finished with a single and an RBI.
• Owens had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
• Cruz doubled, drove in a run and scored a run.

Notes and Notables

• Bryant is now 32-17 against Sacred Heart at the DI level.
• The Bulldogs improve to 15-7 all-time in the NEC Tournament.
• Bryant is 5-2 in the first game of the NEC Tournament.
• The shutout was the fourth this season and second-straight for the Black and Gold.
• The last time Bryant shutout consecutive opponents was in 2016 against Mount St. Mary's.
• Ward now has 93 hits on the season.
• Ward's 58 runs scored are the eighth-most in a single season in program history.
• Angelini now has 242 career hits.
• Theetge improved to 3-0 in the NEC Tournament in his career.
• Theetge became the first Bryant pitcher to throw a complete game in the NEC Tournament since Craig Schlitter in 2014. That was a three-hit shutout with eight strikeouts.
• Theetge picked up his 32nd career victory, extending his program record.
• Theetge's nine innings are a career high.
• Theetge's nine-inning CG shutout is just the third by a Bryant pitcher since 2014 (Schlitter, Jack Patterson, Theetge).
• Theetge has now struck out 91 batters this seasons, the fourth-most in a season in DI program history.
• Theetge has now tied his career high with nine wins.

Up Next

Bryant will play in the winners bracket final on Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. The Bulldogs will either face Central Connecticut or Wagner.