BOSTON - Coming off a three-game sweep over Niagara, the Northeastern baseball team hosts its fourth-consecutive home game when Bryant comes to town on Wednesday, March 19. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. The Huskies were originally scheduled to play Brown on the same date and time.
The matchup
Northeastern and Bryant have met just four times in program history prior to Wednesday's matchup, with the teams splitting the all-time series 2-2. NU's last win over the Bulldogs was a 7-4 decision in March 2010. NU is 1-2 when hosting the Bulldogs at Friedman Diamond.
Northeastern's last series
The Huskies opened their home schedule by sweeping Niagara in three games, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 15. NU narrowly won the first game, 2-1, but came away with a convincing 6-2 win in the second game. The Huskies carried their positive momentum into Sunday when they topped the Purple Eagles, 7-0.
Three-headed monster
All three of Northeastern's starting pitchers against Niagara posted new career highs for strikeouts in a game.
Nick Berger struck out 11 in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, and
Chris Carmain followed with eight strikeouts in the second game. Freshman
Dustin Hunt fanned nine in Sunday's series finale.
K – See you later
The NU pitching staff struck out 13 batters in both games of Saturday's doubleheader, which stands a season-high mark and matches last year's season-best total. The Huskies struck out 12 batters on Sunday to bring their weekend total to 38.
How sweep it is
Northeastern's sweep over Niagara marks the program's first three-game series sweep since March 29-31, 2013, against JMU.
Scouting the other dogs
Bryant enters Wednesday's meeting coming off a 5-4 loss to East Tennessee State in a game that extended to 12 innings. Prior to the loss, the Bulldogs strung together a three-game winning streak after besting East Tennessee State in the series opener and picking up two wins over North Carolina A&T. Bryant now holds a 6-7 overall record on the season, with five of its games reaching extra innings.
Offensively, the Bulldogs are led by standout freshman Matt Albanese, who is hitting .316 and leads the team in both hits (18) and RBI (11). Also contributing at the plate for Bryant are Dan Cellucci and Daniel St. George, who have contributed 12 runs apiece. Cellucci leads the team in doubles with five so far this season.
On the mound, senior RHP Craig Schlitter has gone 2-1 on the season while posting a 3.18 ERA through 22.2 innings. Kevin McAvoy, Jack Patterson, Vaughn Hayward, and Brandon Bingel have all collected one win apiece for the Bulldogs.
Who's on first?
Northeastern pitching has done a great job in keeping the opposition off the base paths as it ranks first in the CAA in fewest walks allowed (49) and second in fewest hits allowed (132). The Huskies allowed just one earned run through three games against Niagara, which equates to a 0.33 ERA for the weekend.
Carmain's quality starts
Senior RHP
Chris Carmain has posted a quality start (min. six innings pitched, max. three earned runs) in each of his five starts this year. Carmain is one of 19 pitchers in the country to have a quality start in each of his first five starts of the season (list compiled by Cal State Northridge athletic communications).Â
Foster among thieves
Michael Foster has swiped two bases in a single game twice this year, and his six steals for the season are tied for third in the CAA.
Mr. 700
Head Coach Neil McPhee became the 37th active coach in the country to reach 700 career wins when the Huskies topped St. Bonaventure on March 2. McPhee, who is retiring at the end of the season after 29 years as NU's head coach, is the winningest coach in any sport in Northeastern history.
Milestone company
Bryant head coach Steve Owens joined Neil McPhee in the 700-win club when the Bulldogs topped North Carolina A&T, 4-0, on March 12. McPhee is the 37th active coach to win 700 games, and Owens is the 38th.Â
A canine change
Two of Northeastern's coaches played collegiately at Bryant:
Kevin Cobb and
Jeff Vigurs. As a senior RHP, Cobb led the 2009 Bulldogs in strikeouts with 56. Vigurs, a catcher, was named 2010 All-NEC and Second Team All-New England in his senior year.
The strikeouts heard 'round the world
Northeastern starting pitcher
James Mulry made a huge impression during NU's 11th annual exhibition against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla., on Feb. 27. The sophomore southpaw entered the game in the third inning and struck out the first two batters he faced: Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz.
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