Frasier, Phinney lead Bulldogs to series victory over URI

KINGSTON, R.I. – Logan Frasier struck out a career-high six and Jackson Phinney homered for the second-straight game as the Bryant University baseball team picked up a series victory over Rhode Island with a 3-2 victory on Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs won game one on Friday, 8-6, but lost game two of the series, 11-8. That game was started on Friday but completed prior to start of Sunday's series finale.

In the series clincher, Frasier allowed one run on two hits, walked one and struck out six over 5.0 innings. Christian Allegretti followed with 3.0 scoreless innings of relief and Austin Wainer picked up the save.

Phinney's two-run home run staked Bryant to a 2-1 lead, but Damaurys Rodriguez's hustle around the bases provided a key insurance run in the eighth.

Phinney and Lane both homered in the second game of the series. Phinney finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while John Tuccillo drove in a pair of runs.

Coleman Picard allowed two runs on four hits over 3.0 innings of relief, while Jack Halbruner struck out three of the five batters he faced in 1.1 scoreless innings.     

Game Information
Resumed Game: URI 11, Bryant 8
Game Three: Bryant 3, URI 2
Records: Bryant 6-10, URI 2-15
Location: Bill Beck Field (Kingston, R.I.)
W|L|S: Broc French (2-0) | Ryan Bradley (0-1) | Sean Sposato (1)
W|L|S: Logan Frasier (1-2) | Trystan Levesque (0-4) | Austin Wainer (1)

Key Moment (Game two of series)

• Addison Kopach broke an 8-8 tie with a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh. Jack Cucinotta followed with an RBI triple to give the Rams an 11-8 lead.                    

How it Happened (Game two of series)

• Bryant got on the board in the first with a pair of unearned runs. A two-out error extended the inning and Tuccillo doubled to right center to score two.
• URI answered with an RBI single and a sac fly to tie the score after one.
• Phinney opened the second with a moon shot to dead center to give Bryant a 3-2 lead. It was his first home run as a Bulldog.
• Anthony DePino's second home run of the series tied the game at 3-3 after three.
• Bryant regained the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth. Lane started the inning with a solo shot and Tommy DiTullio scored Phinney with a double to left.
• URI, however, scored four in the bottom of the fourth to take its first lead. Rob Butler homered, Cucinotta doubled home a pair and DePino added an RBI double.
• Bryant would retake the lead with a three-run sixth. A single, walk and HBP loaded the bases for Matt Smith and he drew a walk to score a run. Derek Smith added a sac fly and the Bulldogs completed a double steal to take an 8-7 lead.
• Kopack quickly tied the game with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the frame and his 2-run double in the seventh broke the tie.    

Key Moment (Game three of series)

• Phinney hit a two-run home run in the top of the second to give Bryant an early 2-1 lead.

How it Happened (Game three of series)

• URI scored in the first inning of game three. A HBP and a single put the first two on and a wild pitch advanced the runners. Laske's hard line to third then popped out of the mitt of DiTullio for an RBI single.
• Bryant grabbed the lead with one swing of the bat in the second. Lane singled and Phinney turned around a high, inside fastball and drove it to left. The ball bounced off the top of the fence and over for a two-run home run.
• It remained 2-1 until the eighth. Damaurys Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third. He then took off on another wild pitch and slid safely head first into home to make it 3-1.
• The Rams made things interesting in the ninth with a two-out RBI single. Wainer then got a punchout to end the game.  

Stats and Game Notes (Game two of series)

• URI outhit Bryant, 13-7.
• Jared Burrows allowed six runs on six hits over 3.0 innings. Picard limited URI to two runs on four hits over 3.0 innings. He struck out two.
• Ryan Bradley suffered the loss, surrendering three runs on two hits in the seventh.
• Jack Halbruner closed out the game on Sunday with 1.1 scoreless innings.
• Phinney finished 3-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored.
• Lane also homered for the Black and Gold.
• Tuccillo doubled home a pair.

Stats and Game Notes (Game three of series)

• Frasier allowed one run on two hits, walked one and struck out six over 5.0 innings.
• The six strikeouts are a career-high for Frasier.
• Six different Bulldogs collected hits in the game.
• In addition to his HBP, Rodriguez clubbed a triple.
• Allegretti struck out two and allowed just one hit over 3.0 scoreless innings.      

Up Next
Bryant travels to UConn on Wednesday for a midweek matchup with the Huskies. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.