BASEBALL SERIES AT DELAWARE STATE MOVED TO SINGLE GAME SATURDAY AND TWINBILL SUNDAY

March 4, 2009

BRYANT HEADS ON ANNUAL SPRING BREAK ROAD TRIP;
WILL PLAY 11 GAMES IN 10 DAYS

Schedule Update: 
Saturday vs. Delware State, 2 pm (one game)
Sunday at Delware State, 12 pm (doubleheader)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - After snow and rain kept the Bulldogs off the field for four-straight days, the Bryant baseball team will head on a ten-day spring break road trip, playing 11 games in that stretch as they look for their first Division I win.

The Bulldogs dropped their first two games of the season at Mercer, 6-2 and 10-9 on Saturday, after rain cancelled the first two games of the series. Snow in the northeast kept the squad an extra couple days in the Peach State, and a two game set scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday at the University of Hartford was cancelled. The Bulldogs take on Delware State in a single game Saturday at 2 pm and will play the Hornets in a doubleheader Sunday starting at noon.

Jordan English (Windsor Locks, Conn.) had four hits in nine at-bats in the first two games for the Bulldogs to lead the offense driving in one RBI. Senior Jeff Vigurs (Windsor Locks, Conn.) had three RBI, all coming in the second game against Mercer, as he went 3-for-5 in the contest. Eric Polvoni (Wallinford, Conn.) was solid in his starting pitching debut in game one, allowing two earned runs in six innings while striking out four. Game two had to be decided in extra innings, as the Bulldogs fell on a bloop single in the bottom of the tenth inning. Bryant will be looking for its first Division I win as they head on their annual spring break road trip.

Scouting the Opponents
The Hornets of Delaware State enter the series with a 4-1-1 record, splitting a double-header their last time out against Maine. Picked to finish fourth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, the Hornets have 11 seniors on their 2009 squad, including second-team all-MEAC selection, Jose Sanchez, who hit a team-best .347 with six homers and 30 RBI. Fellow senior Josh Schmidt is the Hornets leading returning pitcher, posting a 7-5 record in 2008 while leading the team with 80 strikeouts.

A stop in Blacksburg, Virginia is up next, as the Bulldogs take on perennial ACC power Virginia Tech. The Hokies have won eight of their first nine games, with Anthony Sosnoskie leading the offensive charge with a .452 average to compliment three homeruns and 10 RBI. Steve Domecus is also batting over .400 with a .417 average. Rhett Ballard has won both of his starts this year, posting a 2.19 ERA, while starting centerfielder Sean Ryan has been lost for the season with a broken hamate bone in his left hand.

Bryant plays three games with the Atlantic-10's University of Richmond, who are one of just thirteen unbeaten Division I teams to this point this season, winning their first seven games. Freshman Adam McConnell was named Rookie of the Week in the Atlantic-10 last week, going 10-for-21 with ten runs scored and four steals. He also played flawless defense, not committing an error in 19 chances in the middle infield.

A final three-game series with the defending Colonial Athletic Association champion Dukes of James Madison University ends the 10-day road trip. The Dukes were picked to defend their crown this season, and have started the year with a 5-4 record, winning four of their last five contests. Shortstop David Herbeck was named CAA co-Player of the Week, going 11-for-21 while driving in 12 runs, while sophomore pitcher Turner Phelps was named CAA Pitcher of the Week for his complete game, one-hit performance in a 5-0 win over Lafayette.

Up Next
Bryant returns to Smithfield just to hit the road for a double-header against Holy Cross on March 17. The Bulldogs will play their home opener the next day against Boston College on March 18.