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May 19, 2007

Bryant baseball wins nightcap, advances to title game

The Bryant baseball team capped off an incredible Saturday, winning their second game in five hours, defeating second-ranked Adelphi 10-0 to advance to the Northeast Regional Championship at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field in Rindge, N.H.

The Bulldogs, ranked fifth in the Northeast region, will take on top-seed Franklin Pierce Sunday, needing to beat the Ravens, who are 3-0 in the Regional, twice to advance to the Division II College World Series in Montgomery, Alabama.

Bryant got going right away, scoring eight times in the first three innings off two Panther pitchers.

The Bulldogs broke the game open, scoring six times in the second inning. Mark Dondero drilled a double to left-center in the second to bring home T.J. Magnell. With two outs and runners at the corners, Taylor Ferguson nailed a two-strike pitch to the same spot as Dondero’s, clearing the bases as Magnell and Pat McKenna came into score. After Jay Alexander beat out an infield single, Nick Campbell launched a three-run homer to left-center, his second of the season, and ending starter’s Mike McLasky’s day on the hill.

They made it 8-0 as Ferguson’s sacrifice fly brought home Magnell, who doubled to lead off the third.

Starter Brent Almeida (5-6) took full advantage of his team’s run support as he worked quickly and effectively on the hill, hurling a complete-game shutout. Almeida allowed just four hits, while striking out a career-high seven.

A fifth-inning double by Campbell brought McKenna home and made the score 9-0. Mike Rocco then grounded out to bring home the team’s tenth run as Alexander scored on the ground out.

The Bulldogs scored in the first without a hit as Ferguson was hit by a pitch, went to second on a wild pitch, third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a groundout by Campbell.

McLasky lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing seven runs including the big homer from Campbell.

Campbell was 3-for-5 with a homer and a career-high 5 RBIs, while Ferguson was 2-for-2 with 3 RBIs.

Bryant (35-23) avoided elimination earlier Saturday by defeating fourth-ranked Caldwell 3-2 in 10-innings. They tied the game at two after being down to their last out in the ninth inning before winning it in the tenth.

Post-game Notes:

-Campbell’s 5 RBIs are a season-high for any Bulldog player.

-Sunday’s championship can be heard live on bryantbulldogs.com with first pitch of the first game slated for noon.

-Bryant faced Franklin Pierce in the conference championship last Sunday, with the Ravens edging Bryant by 4-2 and 4-3 scores to capture the conference title.

-Bryant has not appeared in the College World Series since 2004 when they defeated Caldwell in the regional finals.

-Almeida was Bryant’s lone player on the Daktronics All-Region Team. He was a second-team selection.

--BRAD DAVIS (Bryant Athletics)

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 9:36 PM to College Sports | Permalink

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