Bryant faces Western Carolina in midweek tilts

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team continues its spring break trip with a pair of midweek games against Western Carolina in Cullowhee, North Carolina, on Tuesday and Wednesday.  

The Particulars
Opponent: Western Carolina
Location: Childress Field
Date and Time: Mar. 10 – 3:00 p.m. | Mar. 11 – 2:00 p.m.
Watch: Tuesday
Audio: Tuesday
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Game Notes: Bryant
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Pitching Probables
Tuesday – Mason Palmieri (0-1, 2.30) vs. TBA
Wednesday – TBA vs. TBA

Grad student Mason Palmieri (Lincoln, R.I.) will make his third start of the season on Tuesday afternoon. Palmieri has been Bryant's best pitcher to date, striking out 18 batters and allowing just eight hits in 15.2 innings.

Bryant vs. Western Carolina

• Bryant and Western Carolina are meeting for the first time in program history.   

Bulldog Notes and Notables

• The Bulldogs are 2-11 on the season and will look to snap a six-game losing skid against the Catamounts.
• Bryant currently ranks 24th nationally with 2.00 stolen bases per game.
• Senior James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) leads the way with nine, ranking 14th nationally.
• Freshman Derek Smith (Arundel, Maine) made a smashing debut last weekend at Maryland, going 5-for-12 with a double, triple and three runs scored.
• Sophomore Jake Gustin (Peabody, Mass.) leads the Black and Gold with six doubles and added his first home run of the season on Sunday at Maryland.     

Scouting the Catamounts

• Western Carolina enters the week at 8-6 overall following a doubleheader split last Friday.
• The Catamounts were picked to finish sixth in the Southern Conference.
• Justice Bigbie is reigning SoCon Player of the Year and is hitting .300 with four doubles.
• The Catamounts are hitting .262 as a team and have a team ERA of 3.99.