April 28, 2009
UCONN KNOCKS-OFF BRYANT, 17-5,
TUESDAY AFTERNOON
Box Score
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Jeff Vigurs (South Windsor,
Conn.) went two-for-three with an RBI and two doubles, but
it was not enough as they Bulldogs fell to UConn, 17-5, Tuesday
afternoon at the Bryant Baseball Complex. It was the first loss at
home for Bryant, as they are now 6-1 on the year in Smithfield.
Center fielder George Springer powered the Husky offense, hitting
two home runs including a grand slam, driving in five runs on the
day. As a team, UConn had 21 hits including four home runs while
scoring in all but two innings.
The Huskies got off to a fast start, scoring five runs in the
top of the first to take an early, 5-0, lead. Mike Nemeth started
the scoring with a bloop single into right field, putting UConn up
1-0 with no one out in the frame. Joe Pavone came up with a big hit
later in the inning, lining a one-out double into left center that
plated two more Husky runs.
Bryant got one back in the bottom of the inning, as Vigurs
grounded a two-out double down the line in right that scored
Nick Campbell (Raynham, Mass.) all the way from
first to cut the deficit to 5-1. Vigurs went two-for-three in the
game, picking up his second double of the game in the sixth while
moving up to fourth on the list for RBI in a single season with 62.
The junior pushed his hitting streak to seven games while recording
his team-best 20th multi-hit performance.
Starting pitcher Brent Almeida (Fairhaven,
Mass.) was able to get the Huskies down in order in the
second, but George Springer put the first pitch from the
right-hander in the third over the fence in right center to extend
the UConn lead to 6-1. Almeida allowed six runs (four earned) in
three innings of work.
Springer went deep again in the fourth, this time blasting a
grand slam to right field off of Bryant reliever Scott
Merritt (Norwalk, Conn.), putting UConn up 10-1.
Campbell provided a highlight for the Bulldogs in the innings,
robbing Peter Fatse of extra bases when he made a tremendous catch
while crashing into the fence in left center field.
Harold Brantley, Jr. tagged the third home run of the game for
UConn in the top of the fifth, putting the visitors on top 11-1.
The Huskies would add on another run in the seventh and two in the
eighth on a John Andreoli home run to go up 12-1.
Jordan English (Windsor Locks, Conn.) brought
in a run with a fielder's choice in the bottom of the eighth, and
Greg Najarian (Rumford, R.I.) added an RBI with an
infield single later in the inning as Bryant tallied twice in the
frame to cut the deficit to 12-3.
After UConn tacked on two runs in the eighth and three in the
ninth, Pat McKenna (Orange, Conn.) slugged his
12th home run of the year in the bottom of the ninth,
taking a Dan Mahoney delivery over the center field fence, putting
the score at 17-5. The 12 home runs ties McKenna for the third most
by a Bulldog in a single season.
The Bulldogs will look to bounce-back on Wednesday when they
play a doubleheader at Brown (2 p.m.). The two teams have already
met twice this season, with each team taking home one victory.
UConn 17, Bryant University 5 (Apr 28, 2009 at Smithfield,
R.I.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
UConn............... 501 410 123 - 17 21
1 (24-20)
Bryant University... 100 000 022 - 5 8
1 (27-19)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: UConn - VAN WOERT, R; DeLAZZER, T.(3); VANCE, K.(5);
ACCOMANDO, D(7);
ODENBACH, D.(8); MAHONEY, D.(9). Bryant University - Brent Almeida;
Scott Merritt(4);
Sean McNiff(7); Rocco Cundari(9).
Win-DeLAZZER, T.(1-0) Loss-Brent Almeida(1-2)
T-2:42 A-121
HR UCONN - SPRINGER, G. 2 (13); ANDREOLI, J. (1); BRANTLEY, H.
(1).
HR BRY - Pat McKenna (12).
