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LATE RALLY LIFTS GOLDEN LIONS OVER #2 BRYANT

Rindge, NH - Colin Barnathan (Massapequa, NY) drove in the go ahead run with a two out, opposite field single to plate Kevin Reese (Ronkonkoma, NY) as #5 Dowling defeated #2 Bryant 7-6 in the first round of the NCAA DII Northeast Regional. The Golden Lions improve to 29-17 and will take on #5 Caldwell College, tomorrow at 6:00 PM.

Dowling got on the board first with 2 runs in the second. Dave Wendt (Methuen, MA) lead off the inning with a walk, and Barnathan was hit by a pitch to set up the Golden Lions with first and second, no outs. A perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Chirs Caputo (West Islip, NY) moved the runners up and Dan Pembroke (Wading River, NY) drove the first in with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right. With two outs, Matt Monastero (Ridge, NY) took the first pitch and sent it to the gap to plate the second run.

In the 3rd, Dowling would push their lead to 4-0. With one out, Eddie Squeri (Shirley, NY) and Reese connected on back-to-back singles. With runners on first and second Wendt hit a double into the gap in left center, scoring Squeri. Barnathan's would follow with sacrifice fly and give Dowling the four run cushion.

The Bulldogs would fight back and get to Golden Lions starter Brent Lotito (Miller Place, NY) in the bottom of the inning as Lotito would load the bases with no outs. Bulldogs centerfielder Nick Campbell would ground back to the box for the first out but Bryant would break through on a 2 RBI single by clean up hitter Pat O'Connor. Jeff Vigurs and Pat McKenna would follow with back-to-back singles, tying the game at 4.

A sea saw battle thourgout, Bryant would take their first lead in the 4th, pushing a run across on a sacrifice fly by Dylan Stone. Dowling would answer back in the 6th capitilizing on defensive mistakes of the Bulldogs and scoring a run after right fielder Taylor Ferguson misplayed a single of the bat of Monastero, scoring Caputo from second. In the bottom of the inning Bryant would take back the lead, on a RBI double from Campbell. Dowling would tie the game in the 8th on a opposite single to the right side by Monastero, to set up the 9th inning dramatics.

Buddy Cipoletti (West Islip, NY) would start the 9th and retire the first batter, Vigrus on an attempt to bunt for a base hit, 1-3. Shortstop Pat Mckenna would then send a lazy fly ball to center, which skipped past centerfielder Brian Ferguson's (Ronkonkoma, NY) outstretched glove and allowing McKenna to advance to thirdbase. Head Coach Chris Celano would call for closer Joe Trainor (Massapequa, NY) after intentionally walking Jordan English to set up the double play situation. Trainor was lights out, getting the next two hitters to pop up to Squeri at second to pick up his 7th save of the year.

For Dowling, Reese finished 4-5 with 2 runs scored and Monastero had 3 hits and 2 RBI. For Bryant, McKenna went 4-5 with an RBI and Jason Alexander and Dave Muscatello had 3 hits each in the loss. On the mound, Lotito lasted 5 innings allowing 9 hits and 5 runs, all earned. Cipoletti picked up the win in relief, his first of the season, scattering only 1 hit in 1 1/3 innings of work. Bryant starter Eric Loh pitched 7 innings, striking out 3 allowing 5 runs, 4 earned. Closer Eric Polvani suffered the loss, dropping to 1-2 on the year.

click here to view game one box score

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