Smithfield, R.I. (March 22, 2013)--Mount St. Mary's opened Northeast Conference play with a 6-0 loss at Bryant on Friday afternoon in the first game of a four-game series.

The Bulldogs (6-9-1, 1-0 NEC) took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second.  John Mullen was hit by a pitch to open the frame, stole second, advanced to third on an error by Mount, and scored on a Tom Gavitt sacrifice fly.  Bryant added the second run when Robby Rinn lined a ball off Mount starter Scott Nickerson to plate Dan Muscatello.  Nickerson was forced to leave the game with Chris Campbell coming on in relief.

The Mount threatened in the third when Nick Walker and Jay Knight singled and Mark Quaranta walked to load the bases with one out.  Bryant pitcher Peter Kelich, however, got a strikeout and a groundout to keep the Mount (4-11, 0-1 NEC) off the scoreboard.

Bryant broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning.  Jordan Mountford's RBI single pushed the lead to 3-0, and Mullen added two-out bases-clearing double to give Bryant a six-run advantage. 

Knight went 3-for-4 at the plate for the Mount in the game while Tom Healy, Andrew Clow and Walker each had base hits.  Nickerson allowed two runs in 1.2 innings, walking two while allowing one hit.  Campbell allowed four runs in 5.1 innings of relief, striking out three.  Austin Bonadio pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Mountaineers.

Kelich tossed seven scoreless innings to pick up the win for Byrant with Joseph Michaud pitching the final two innings to preserve the shutout. 

The teams will play a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 1:00 p.m.