March 31, 2010

TEN HITS HIGHLIGHT BULLDOGS' 5-2 WIN OVER MARIST WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

Boxscore

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team recorded 10 hits to outslug Marist Wednesday afternoon, taking a 5-2 road victory in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to earn the team's first winning streak of the season.

The Bulldogs' 10 hits were spread among eight different batters, with 2-for-4 performances from senior catcher Jeff Vigurs and sophomore first baseman Jamie Skagerlind leading the way. Rookie shortstop Dan Muscatello added a game-best two RBI for the Black and Gold.

The Bulldogs (6-13) nearly got on the board in the top of the first, sparked by a Kevin Brown leadoff single up the middle. A sacrifice bunt moved the rookie to second before a Vigurs base hit put runners at the corners with just one out. Vigurs would take second a batter later, recording his second steal of the season.

But a fielder's choice ended the Bulldogs' hopes for an early lead, as Brown was gunned down at home on a ground ball off the bat of Nick Campbell, and the Red Foxes (11-10) would get out of the inning with a Dylan Stone pop out two pitches later.

The Bulldogs got a runner to third again an inning later by virtue of a single, fielder's choice and wild pitch, but couldn't bring baserunner Skagerlind home, leaving the bottom of the frame open for Marist's first offensive strike.

And the Red Foxes would strike quickly, in the form of an Eric Helmrich first-pitch home run over the left field fence to give the home side a 1-0 lead.

But the edge on the scoreboard wouldn't last. A pitching change on the part of Marist sent Richard Cary to the hill in place of starter Brett Houseal to open fourth-frame play, and after getting one quick out, the senior righty issued Stone a five-pitch free pass to first.

It was a walk Bryant would waste no time in making him pay for, as Skagerlind doubled down the right field line the very next at bat, a play that easily plated Stone to knot the score at 1-1.

And after Cary issued his second walk in four batters – this one to third baseman Tim Norton – Marist head coach Chris Tracz had seen enough, sending Chris Bielak to the mound in relief.

But relief would come only for the Bulldogs, as Muscatello ripped the second pitch he saw for a double down the right field line, scoring Norton and Skagerlind to give the visitors a 3-1 advantage with just one out in the top of the fourth. Muscatello would come around to score before the Red Foxes would get out of the inning, but not before spotting the Bulldogs a three-run lead from which they wouldn't recover.

Marist got one back in the bottom of the sixth with junior Matt Griswold on the mound – Helmrich capitalized on his leadoff single and subsequent passed ball to score from second on a John Prano sacrifice fly with one out in the frame – but it would be the last Red Fox score of the day.

Vigurs and rightfielder Colin Dougherty would team up to round out the scoring for the day with two outs in the top of the next inning, as a misplay by Marist shortstop Richard Curylo turned Dougherty's infield single into a two-base advance, gaining second via the error.

Dougherty wouldn't be stuck on second for long.

With a quick single to center, Vigurs brought his teammate home, restoring the Bulldogs' three-run edge, 5-2, heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Bryant would give up just one more hit in the final 2.5 innings, and lefty closer Mark Andrews would retire the final three Marist hitters in order with a nine-pitch bottom of the ninth.

The game marked the seventh time the Bulldogs have outperformed their opponent at the plate, holding the Red Foxes to seven hits in the affair. Marist was paced by a 2-for-3 day from Helmrich.

Starting hurler Brent Almeida (1-0) got the win for Bryant, earning his first victory of the season in his fourth 2010 appearance, thanks to 5.1 solid innings of work. The senior gave up five hits and four walks with three strikeouts. Andrews' 1-2-3 ninth earned the junior his third save of the season, while Griswold and junior John Michael Ryan also saw work in the contest. Cary gave up three runs despite allowing just a single hit to take the loss for Marist.

Bryant returns to the diamond Thursday, April 1 but remains on the road, taking on Fairfield at 3:30 p.m.