University of Rhode Island

2016 (Redshirt Senior)

• Appeared in 47 games, splitting 28 starts between catcher and DH.
• Hit .252 with six doubles and one home run.
• Also drove in 14 runs, scored seven of his own, drew 18 walks and was 1-for-1 in stolen base attempts.
• Went 2-for-3 in Rhody's 1-0 win at Maryland (Feb. 27).
• Combined to go 6-for-10 with three RBI and a run scored in the final two games at Winthrop (March 5-6).
• Belted his first career home run - a two-run shot - against Davidson at the Campbell Invitational (March 13).
• Doubled, singled, walked and drove in a run at Saint Joseph's (April 30).
• Went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI against Boston College (May 3).
• Recorded his third consecutive two-hit game with a 2-for-3 day at the plate against Dayton (May 6).
• Drove in two runs on a pinch-hit single against Davidson in the title game of the Atlantic 10 Championship (May 28).

2015 (Redshirt Junior)

• Appeared in 43 games (40 starts), splitting time between catcher and DH.
• Hit .244 with a team-best .406 on-base percentage.
• Led the team in both walks (31) and hit by pitch (5).
• Also collected 31 hits, 13 runs and 12 RBI.
• Was the only player on the team to hit in all nine spots in the batting order.
• Defensively, threw out six would-be base stealers.
• Reached base in 13 consecutive games from Feb. 27 - March 29.
• Had three hits, three walks, two RBI and a run scored in URI's three-game set against No. 11 North Carolina.
• Recorded a pair of hits - as well as the first stolen base of his career - in the first game of a March 15th doubleheader against Yale.
• Was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and two runs scored against Brown on March 17.
• Went 2-for-4 against Quinnipiac (March 18), Saint Louis (March 21) and Sacred Heart (March 29).
• Was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored at Quinnipiac on April 7.
• Reached three times on three walks at Hartford (April 22).
• Was 3-for-4 with an RBI at VCU on April 24.
• Went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and three RBI in URI's opening-round victory over Fordham at the Atlantic 10 Championship.
• Started behind the plate in 11 of Rhody's last 12 games.

2014 (Redshirt Sophomore)

• Appeared in 43 games, starting 30.
• Led the team with a .276 batting average.
• Had a .422 OBP and .343 slugging percentage.
• Had a five-game hitting streak, (March 11-18), during which he went 9-for-19 with five RBI and four runs scored.
• Reached base five times against Brown on April 28, going 1-for-1 with three walks, a HBP, a run scored, and three RBI.
• Had four RBI in a two-game set with George Washington on May 9-10.

2013 (Redshirt Freshman)

• Made 18 appearances - including nine starts as a designated hitter. 
• Finished the season with a .375 on-base percentage, despite recording just four hits.
• Reached base via walk seven times and was hit by pitch four times.
• Had a pair of two-RBI games - against St. Bonaventure (May 5) and UConn (May 14).

2012 (Freshman)

• Did not appear in any games for the Rams.

High School

• Was a member of the baseball, football and basketball teams at Shaker High School.
• Captained his baseball and football teams as both a junior and senior.
• Football team posted perfect 6-0 records in 2010 and 2011.
• Baseball team advanced to the New York stats finals in 2011.
• Posted Shaker’s top batting average all-time and set a new program record for career hits.
• Also received the Shaker’s Justin Perry Courage Award.
• Was a high honor roll student and has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Personal

• Born December 11, 1992.
• Son of Sheila and Tony Gardella.
• Favorite athlete is Babe Ruth.
• Favorite team is the New York Yankees.
• Majoring in Kinesiology.