Bridgeport Baseball Opens 2012 Season With Doubleheader Split Versus Assumption In Florida

Ormond Beach, Fla.-The University of Bridgeport baseball team opened its 2012 season in Florida by splitting a doubleheader with the Assumption Greyhounds (4-5) on Saturday afternoon.  Assumption won game one, 5-0, and the Purple Knights came back to gain the split with an extra innings (in nine as both games were schedule for seven innings), 8-4 victory.

In game one, UB was blanked on four hits by a pair of Assumption hurlers.  Starter, senior Nick Vautrin (S. Hadley, Mass.) took the loss in the opener working five innings in which he allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits.  Vautrin fanned five batters without issuing a walk in his first appearance of 2012.

In game two, the Purple Knights banged out 11 hits to grab the extra innings win.  Four Bridgeport batters, Matt Nassi (Sr., N. Providence, R.I.), Eric Schlitter (Sr., Guilford, Conn.), Jesse Solar (So., Marlton, N.J.) and Ryan Barba (Sr., Stratford, Conn.) each had two hits in the game.  Nassi also knocked in a pair of runs.

Sophomore, righty Ryan Garcia (Franklin Square, N.Y.) worked three innings of hitless and scoreless relief to pick up the game two win.  Garcia, who also worked a perfect inning of relief in the opener, struck out three batters in game two.

Game two starter Chris Maull (Jr., Winslow, N.J.) worked four innings of scoreless ball to open his 2012 season.

The Purple Knights return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 13 when the face Bentley University.  UB will face the Falcons at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., and game time is 11:00 a.m.