March 21, 2008

BRYANT BASEBALL OPENS CONFERENCE PLAY AGAINST BENTLEY THIS WEEKEND; OPEN 2008 HOME SCHEDULE MONDAY AT 3:30 P.M.

SMITHFIELD, RI -- The Bryant University baseball team (10-9, 0-0 NE-10) enters the Northeast-10 Conference portion of its regular-season schedule this weekend, when the Bulldogs take on Bentley College (6-11, 1-1 NE-10) for three games this weekend.

The Bulldogs will travel to Waltham, Mass., Saturday for a noontime doubleheader before returning to the Bryant Baseball Complex in Smithfield, RI for Monday's home opener at 3:30 p.m.

Bryant is currently ranked No. 2 in the NCBWA Regional Poll and is receiving votes in both the NCBWA and the Collegiate Baseball national rankings.

The Bulldogs took down two top-10 teams over their Spring Break trip down the East Coast, March 11-16. Bryant took at win from nationally top-ranked Mount Olive, 5-4, Thursday, March 13 and topped No. 6 West Chester University three days later, 1-0.

Junior transfer Pat O'Connor (Mattapoissett, Mass.) leads the Bulldogs with a .397 average and 12 RBI, plating a team-best 19 runs of his own. O'Connor has four home runs and 12 extra-base hits on the year, while committing no errors in 18 starts. He has appeared in all 19 contests.

Dylan Stone (Portsmouth, RI) and junior captain Pat McKenna (Orange, Conn.), both with 19 starts, lead the Bulldogs in RBI, with 13 apiece.

Bryant is 3-0 against Bentley already this year, sweeping the Falcons February 16, 17 and 18 to open the 2008 season at Rollins College.

The Falcons are led by James Roche, who is hitting .358 in 17 games this season with 13 RBI and five long balls.