Bulldogs rally falls short against Kennesaw St.

CONWAY, S.C. – The Bryant University baseball team nearly rallied from a 7-0 deficit on Saturday afternoon, but the potential tying run was thrown out at the plate to end the game as the Bulldogs fell to Kennesaw St., 7-6.

Bryant scored four times in the fifth and twice in the eighth to make it a one-run game entering the ninth. Jake Gustin kept the Bulldogs alive with a two-out single before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Liam McGill then singled to left but Gustin was thrown out at the plate to end the game. 

McGill finished the day 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Michael Stellato also drove in a pair of runs. Bryant's relief trio of John MacDonald, Michael Randazzo and Kevin Gould combined to toss 4.0 scoreless innings to keep the game tight.  

Game Information
Kennesaw St. 7, Bryant 6
Records: Bryant (2-3), Kennesaw St. (4-2)
Location: Springs Brooks Stadium (Conway, S.C.)
W|L|S: Rice | Vito Morgese (0-1) | Johnson

Key Moments

• Kennesaw St. received a two-run double from Terence Norman in the bottom of the first to open the scoring for KSU.
• The Owls then thwarted Bryant's attempt to tie the game, throwing out the tying run at the plate to end the game.          

How it Happened

• The Owls scored all seven of their runs in the first four innings. Norman's two-run double opened the scoring and he eventually came around on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
• An RBI single and an infield error accounted for two runs in the second. A pair of sac flies closed the scoring for KSU.
• Bryant started its rally with a four-run fifth. Stellato walked with one out and the Bulldogs followed with three-consecutive singles to bring in the first run. A HBP plated the second and McGill followed with a two-run single to make it 7-4.
• In the eighth, a single and an infield error put two runners on. Stellato then plated both with a two-out, two-run single. 
• Gustin then gave the Bulldogs a final hope with his ninth-inning single. After a wild pitch, Gustin's mad dash home was stymied by a good relay from the Owls. 

Stats

• Bryant outhit Kennesaw St., 9-8.
• McGill finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
• Stellato was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
• Morgese suffered the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on three hits over 2.0 innings.
• Christian Allegretti made his Bryant debut, tossing 2.0 innings of relief. He allowed two runs on three hits and struck out two.
• MacDonald recorded two outs in the fifth, with Randazzo recording the final out. 
• Gould closed out the game on the mound for the Bulldogs, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out four.

Notes and Notables  

• McGill has now posted three-straight three-hit games and is 10-for-17 on the year.
• Stellato drove in his first runs as a Bulldog in the game.
• Bryant and Kennesaw St. were meeting for the first time. 

Up Next

Bryant closes out the weekend on Sunday morning against No. 23 West Virginia. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m.