Bulldogs fall to CCSU in NEC Championship

NORWICH, Conn. – The Bryant University baseball team saw its season come to a close on Sunday night in a 5-2 loss to Central Connecticut in the championship round of the 2021 Northeast Conference Baseball Championships.

The top-seeded Bulldogs had opened the tournament 2-0 but dropped 7-5 and 5-2 decisions to the Blue Devils. It is the second-straight year that CCSU has won games six and seven against the Bulldogs in the NEC Tournament.

Sunday's decisive game was delayed over five hours due to heavy rains in the area. The field was made playable and first pitch was thrown at 5:45.

Kevin Gould struck out six over 4.0 innings in his first start of the year, while Jake Gustin posted three hits and Liam McGill had two knocks.

Game Information
Central Connecticut 5, Bryant 2
Records: Bryant (27-14-1), CCSU (28-13)
Location: Dodd Stadium (Norwich, Conn.)
W|L|S: Jake Neuman (5-0) | Christian Allegretti (0-1)

Key Moment

• Dave Matthews broke a 1-1 tie with a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the fifth. The Blue Devils then scored three times in the seventh for insurance.               

How it Happened

• Bryant opened the scoring in the third inning. McGill drilled a pitch to deep left that was initially ruled a home run. Instant replay overturned it and McGill was awarded a triple. Smith followed with an RBI double to right center to make it 1-0.
• The Blue Devils grabbed the lead with single runs in the fourth and fifth. In the fourth, Hunter Pasqualini slapped an RBI single to left field to tie the score. Gould struck out the next two to strand runners on second and third.
• In the fifth, Jay Devito drew a leadoff walk and then scored from first on a two-out double from Dave Matthews.
• Bryant hit into double plays in the fifth and sixth innings to stall rallies.
• The Blue Devils added three insurance runs in the seventh. After a leadoff walk, a late throw to second on a bunt put two on. Noah Martinez then hit a cue shot to third that spun its way into shallow left for an RBI single. A balk and a sac fly made it 5-1. 
• Bryant loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth but couldn't score.
• In the ninth, a single and an error put runners on second and third. James Ciliento made it 5-2 with a sac fly to center.  

Stats

• Gould allowed one run on two hits, walked three and struck out six over 4.0 innings in his first start of the year.
• Christian Allegretti allowed four runs on two hits, walked two and struck out two over two-plus innings.
• John MacDonald tossed 2.0 innings of relief. He allowed two hits. 
• Gustin finished 3-for-5.
• McGill had three hits, including a triple, and scored Bryant's two runs.
• Smith doubled.
• Tommy DiTullio posted a pair of hits and also walked, reaching safely three times.
• Bryant left 15 runners on base. 

Game Notes

• Bryant closes the season with an overall record of 27-14-1.
• McGill reached safely in all 37 games he's played this season.
• McGill closes the season hitting .471, the highest batting average in the country.
• McGill's .471 average is the second-highest in program history. It trails only Tony Garganese's .481 average in 1987.
• Gustin reached safely in 32-straight games to close the season.
• Gustin led the Bulldogs with 21 multi-hit games.
• Smith posted three doubles and drove in six runs in the tournament.
• Smith, McGill and Tyler Schoff were all named to the NEC All-Tournament team.