April 19, 2008
BRYANT ROLLS PAST MERRIMACK
COLLEGE, 11-1 AND 7-2, IN SATURDAY
DOUBLEHEADER
Game 1 / Game 2
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PAT O'CONNOR HIT HIS 7TH
HOME RUN OF THE SEASON
IN GAME ONE SATURDAY.
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SMITHFIELD, RI - Backed by 28 total hits in 16 innings of
offense, the Bryant University baseball team took a pair of
Northeast-10 Conference games from rival Merrimack College in
Saturday's doubleheader at the Bryant Baseball Complex, 11-1 and
7-2.
Junior righty Kevin Cobb (Acton, Mass.) went
eight innings of five-hit ball for the Bulldogs (29-14, 17-5 NE-10)
in Game One, as Bryant exploded for 11 runs, including a pair
of three-score frames, while limiting the Warriors (13-20, 11-9) to
just a single tally.
Junior transfer Pat O'Connor (Mattapoisett,
Mass.) gave Bryant the 2-0 lead in the bottom of the
first, ripping a Jake Halloran offer deep down the left field line
for a towering two-run homer, his seventh of the season, plating
Nick Campbell (Raynham, Mass.) in the process.
Merrimack came back for their only run in the top of the third,
when three straight singles to centerfield brought home Dustin
Sullivan, who led off the inning taking a 2-0 toss up the middle.
But the Bulldogs would get out of the inning without further
damage, stranding a pair.
A trio of runs in the home half of the third, thanks to doubles
from Campbell and catcher Jeff Vigurs (South Windor,
Conn.) brought the tally up to 5-1 entering the fourth.
The Bulldogs chipping in one more in the fifth - a sacrifice fly
that scored Dylan Stone (Portsmouth, RI), who led
off the inning with his first of two Game One triples - and two
more in the seventh - before tacking on their second three-run
frame in the bottom of the eighth.
With Ryan McNeil on the mound for the Warriors, designated
hitter Mark Dondero (Medfield, Mass.) and second
baseman Dave Muscatello (Hopkinton, Mass.) led off
with back-to-back doubles down the left field line before Stone
ripped a one-out triple to left centerfield, driving the score to
10-1. Campbell sent his second double of the day again down the
left field line to score Stone for the final 11-1 tally.
Senior captain Adam Vuolo (Walpole, Mass.) came
on in the ninth, pitching a two-hit inning of relief with one
strikeout to close the game. Cobb (6-2) allowed just one run and
one walk in his eight innings of work, striking out four.
For Merrimack, Halloran (2-3) took the loss, despite throwing
just one frame, giving up two runs on two hits. Chris Smith and
McNeil combined for the remaining seven innings, letting up 13
hits, nine runs (eight earned) with five strikeouts.
Game Two was much of the same for both sides, as the Bulldogs
got started with a 3-0 lead after two and a 4-0 lead before
Merrimack crossed home plate in the top of the sixth.
Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out for Mike
Chandler, who sent a single screaming up the middle to score the
leadoff man. With the bases still juiced, freshman John
Michael Ryan (Worcester, Mass.) came on to replace starter
David O'Brien (Whitman, Mass.), getting Mike Andre
to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Bryant got two back in the bottom of the frame, when an RBI-bunt
from Stone scored Jason Alexander (Simsbury,
Conn.), who singled and advanced to third on a failed
pickoff attempt that got past the Warriors' first baseman. A double
from O'Connor scored Stone two batters later.
Both teams would score one more in the seventh before
Mark Andrews (Hillsborough, NJ) closed out the 7-2
win with a 1-2-3 ninth.
O'Brien (5-0) earned the win for the Bulldogs, giving up five
hits and one run in 5.1 innings of work, fanning three. Mike
Coppinger (5-6) took the loss, allowing 11 hits and six runs in six
frames on the mound.
The Bulldogs were led at the plate by Campbell, who went 8-for-8
on the day, knocking out a trio of doubles with three RBI and four
runs scored. Campbell was also 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts,
drawing a walk and getting hit by a pitch.
O'Connor pitched in four RBI himself, going 4-for-6 with four
runs scored, a home run and two walks.
The Bulldogs will return to the diamond tomorrow, April 20, to
try and complete the regular-season sweep of Merrimack in North
Andover, Mass. First pitch is 1:00 p.m.
--
GAME ONE
Bryant University 11, Merrimack College 1
-------------------------------------------
Merrimack College... 001 000 000 - 1 7 2
Bryant University... 203 010 23X - 11 15 1
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Win - Cobb (6-2). Loss - Halloran (2-3). Save - None.
GAME TWO
Bryant University 7, Merrimack College 2
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Merrimack College... 000 001 100 - 2 9
2 (13-20, 9-11)
Bryant University... 210 102 10X - 7 13
0 (29-14, 17-5)
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Win-David O'Brien(5-0) Loss-Coppinger(5-6) T-2:30
A-73
