Bryant rallies for weekend sweep of Merrimack

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team scored five times in the bottom of the seventh inning to come from behind and win game two Sunday, completing a doubleheader and series sweep of Merrimack College at Conaty Park.

After winning game one 9-3, the Black and Gold were held to just two hits through six innings before erupting in the seventh in game two. Bryant would score five times and hold on for a 5-1 victory. The Black and Gold have now won all seven Northeast Conference series this year and are 18-3 in league play.

Tyler Schoff tossed six innings of three-run ball and four players registered multiple hits in the game one victory. Liam McGill had three hits, Tommy DiTullio drove in three and Vincenzo Castronovo had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored.

In game two, Vito Morgese allowed just one unearned run on seven hits, walked one and struck out seven over 7.2 innings. Brian Nicolas had a pair of hits, including a two-run single in the seventh.  

Game Information
Game 1: Bryant 9, Merrimack 3
Game 2: Bryant 5, Merrimack 1
Records: Bryant (22-11-1, 18-3 NEC), Merrimack (15-19, 10-11 NEC)
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
Game 1: W|L|S: Tyler Schoff (5-1) | Riley Sorenson (4-3) | Austin Wainer (1)
Game 2: W|L|S: Vito Morgese (3-2) | Wyatt Villella (1-3)

Key Moment (Game 1)

• Holding a 6-3 lead in the sixth inning, Schoff was able to get a strikeout for the second out before getting Merrimack's best hitter, Joe Porrcielli, to fly out to center.         

How it Happened (Game 1)

• Merrimack grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second. Porricelli fouled off several pitches before delivering a two-out, two-run single.
• The Bulldogs got a run back in the second as Kelly scored Rodriguez all the way from first with a one-hop double to the center field wall.
• Bryant then scored five times in the third to grab a 6-2 lead. McGill tied the game with a single through the left side and Rodriguez gave Bryant the lead with an RBI ground out. Castronovo made it 4-2 with a wind-aided double to left and Tommy DiTullio closed the inning with a two-run double down the third base line.  
• The Warriors made things interesting in the sixth, loading the bases with no outs. Schoff got a ground ball to third for the first out but an infield error allowed a run to score, making it 6-3. Schoff buckled down, striking out the next batter before getting Porricelli to fly out to center.
• Bryant pushed across two runs in the seventh with good team baseball. Kelly walked, advanced on a wild pitch, went to third on a single and scored on a safety squeeze from DiTullio. Nicolas followed DiTullio with a single through the left side to make it 8-3.
• The Black and Gold scored their final run in the eighth as Castronovo was HBP with the bases loaded.

Stats (Game 1)

• Bryant outhit Merrimack, 13-5.
• The Bulldogs committed three errors in the game.
• Schoff allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out three over 6.0 innings.
• Austin Wainer tossed 3.0 innings of scoreless relief to earn the save. He didn't surrender a hit.
• McGill went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run.
• Rodriguez, Castronovo and Nicolas all had two hits.
• Kelly, Gustin and Castronovo each scored a pair of runs.
• DiTullio finished with three RBI.

Key Moment (Game 2)

• McGill changed the complexion of game two with one swing, doubling off the middle of the center field fence to tie the game in the seventh. It sparked a five-run inning.          

How it Happened (Game 1)

• Merrimack was able to scratch across an unearned run in the first as the Bulldogs threw away a potential double-play ball.
• Bryant was held scoreless until McGill's double off the center field wall scored Gustin from first. The Bulldogs would eventually load the bases and Castronovo walked on a 3-2 pitch to make it 2-1. Nicolas followed with two-run single up the middle to make it 4-1. A ground out completed the scoring in the inning.  

Stats (Game 1)

• Merrimack outhit Bryant, 7-5.
• Morgese allowed one unearned run on seven hits, walked one and struck out seven over 7.2 innings.
• John MacDonald struck out both batters he faced.
• Kevin Gould recorded the final two outs of game two.
• Nicolas went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
• Derek Smith, DiTullio and McGill had Bryant's other three hits.

Game Notes

• Gustin has now reached safely in 24-straight games.
• McGill has reached safely in all 29 games he's played this season.
• McGill now leads the team with 40 RBI.
• McGill now has 15 multi-hit games this year.
• Rodriguez posted his 11th multi-hit game of the year in game one.
• Schoff improved to 5-1 on the year.
• Wainer earned his first-career save in game one.
• Morgese earned his 14th career victory in game two.
• MacDonald worked his sixth-straight scoreless outing.
• Bryant has now won each of its seven NEC series this year.  
• The Bulldogs won all six games against Merrimack this year.

Up Next

The Bulldogs travel to Lakewood, N.J., next weekend for a three-game series against Wagner. The series will take place at FirstEnergy Park.