Bryant downs CCSU on Thursday at Dodd Stadium

NORWICH, Conn. – The third of four pitchers, Liam LeVangie delivered a career-high 4.2 innings to help the second-seeded Bryant University baseball team defeat third-seeded Central Connecticut, 5-3, in the first round of the 2022 Northeast Conference Baseball Championships at Dodd Stadium.

With the win, the Bulldogs (28-25) advance into the winners bracket and will face top-seeded Long Island University on Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. The winner of that game will earn a spot in the NEC Championship round.

Bryant rolled out four pitchers on Thursday against Blue Devils, with freshman Kyle Rizy making his first-career start and tossing 2.0 innings. Austin Wainer followed with 2.0 scoreless innings and LeVangie took Bryant to the ninth. Coleman Picard recorded the final out.

Offensively, veterans Shane Kelly and Matt Woods set the tone. Kelly singled home two in the first and Woods' eighth home run of the year made it 4-1 in the second.    

Game Information
Bryant 5, Central Connecticut 3
Records: Bryant 28-25 | Central Connecticut 28-17
Location: Dodd Stadium (Norwich, Conn.)
W|L|S: Liam LeVangie (3-0) | Anthony Mozzicato (7-4) | Coleman Picard (3)

Key Moment

• Woods extended Bryant's lead to three with a two-run home run in the second inning.         

How it Happened

• Bryant jumped ahead with two runs in the first inning. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single. Kelly then lined a 1-2 pitch through the middle for a two-run single.
• CCSU pushed across a run in the top of the second, scoring on a wild pitch.
• The Black and Gold extended the lead in the second with one swing of the bat. Logan Allen walked to start the inning and Woods golfed the first pitch he saw over the wall in right for a two-run home run.
• Bryant escaped trouble in the third after CCSU walked twice. Wainer got a pop up to short and a soft ground ball to first to end the rally.
• The Bulldogs also missed out on a pair of opportunities to extend, putting the first two runners on in the third and fourth without scoring a run.
• LeVangie escaped trouble in his first inning of work, as well. CCSU put the first two on with singles but LeVangie got a fly to left, a sky-high pop to third and a fly to right to end the threat.
• Bryant pushed across a crucial insurance run in the eighth as Derek Smith scored a run with a fielder's choice.
• In the ninth, CCSU got a pair of singles and Jay Devito brought them home with a two-run double. Picard got a fly ball to center to end the rally.  

Stats and Game Notes

• Bryant is now 19-11 in the NEC Tournament. This was Bryant's first game as the No. 2 seed.
• The Bulldogs advance to the winner's bracket game for the fourth-straight year.
• Bryant is now 46-18 overall against CCSU. The Bulldogs own a 5-4 edge in the postseason.
• Rizy allowed one run on two hits over 2.0 innings in his first-career start. He didn't walk a batter and struck out one.
• Over his last six outings, Rizy has allowed two runs on eight hits in 16.0 innings. He has walked six and struck out 18.
• Wainer tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief. He allowed two hits, walked two and struck out three.
• LeVangie tossed a career-high 4.2 innings. He allowed two runs on five hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out three.
• LeVangie earned his third win of the year.
• Picard recorded the final out to earn his third save of the year.
• Woods finished with three hits, his 25^th multi-hit game of the year. He homered and had two singles.
• Woods now has 78 hits, eight home runs and 133 total bases. His 78 hits are the 10^th-most in a single season in DI program history, while his 133 total bases are tied for the fifth most.
• Allen finished 1-for-2 with two walks.      
• Kelly drove in two runs and has 19 RBI in 11 games.

Up Next
Bryant will face top-seeded LIU on Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.