NORWICH, Conn. – The Bryant University baseball team fell to Central Connecticut by a score of 7-5 in the first game of the NEC Championship Round at Dodd Stadium tonight.

With CCSU's victory, the 2021 NEC Championship will come down to a decisive game seven for the second-straight year. Bryant and CCSU will meet Sunday at 12:00 p.m. to determine the league's automatic qualifier to the 2021 NCAA Baseball Championships.

Game Information
CCSU 7, Bryant 5
Records: Bryant (27-13-1), CCSU (27-13)
Location: Dodd Stadium (Norwich, Conn.)
W|L|S: | | Dylan Sabia (2-2) | Austin Wainer (1-1)

Key Moment

• CCSU broke the 5-5 tie in the bottom of the seventh by scoring two runs on a home run and single.

How it Happened

• In the bottom of the first, CCSU scored on a groundout to short after putting runners on the corners due to a Bulldog error (1-0).
• Matt Woods began the top of the third with a leadoff walk, which led to an RBI double to left-center from Jake Gustin (1-1). The Bulldogs then had four straight walks including a bases-loaded walk (2-1). Damaurys Rodriguez brought in the final run of the inning on a groundout to the shortstop (3-1).
• In the bottom of the third, the Blue Devils cut the lead to one on an RBI single (3-2), and then tied the game on a groundout to first bringing in the runner from third (3-3). CCSU then regained the lead on a two-run home run to left field (5-3).
• The Bulldogs tied it up on a two-run shot to right field from Rodriguez (5-5) in the top of the fifth.
• In the bottom of the seventh, CCSU scored two runs on an opposite-field home run to right, and a single to right (7-5), which ended up being the winning runs.

 Stats

• Rodriguez had three RBI's and a home run.
• Gustin recorded a hit and an RBI.
• Brian Nicolas produced one hit.
• Vito Morgese produced five strikeouts in five innings pitched.
• Wainer had four strikeouts in 3.0 innings of relief.

Game Notes

• McGill has reached safely in all 36 games he's played this season.
• Gustin has now reached safely in 31-straight games.
• Rodriguez hit his first postseason home run and fourth of the season.

Up Next

Bryant will face CCSU for the NEC Championship tomorrow at 12 PM.