Bats awaken late as Bryant downs Liberty, 8-2

LYNCHBURG, Va. – John Hosmer doubled twice and homered and Brett Wichrowski tossed 3.1 scoreless innings of relief as the Bryant University baseball team earned an 8-2 victory over Liberty on Sunday afternoon.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 2-7 on the year. The Bulldogs have won a game in each of the last two weekends. Bryant broke a 2-2 tie with four runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth.

On Sunday, Hosmer, Lewis Barnum and Caden Dulin, the bottom three in Bryant's lineup, combined to go 6-for-11 with three doubles, three RBI and four runs scored. Hosmer was 3-for-3 with two doubles and a tiebreaking home run, while Barnum opened the scoring with a two-run single. Derek Smith and Jake Gustin each added two RBI.

Ken Turner delivered a solid outing on the mound, allowing one run on three hits over 4.1 innings. He walked two and struck out three. Matthew Stansky and Brett Wichrowski combined to close it out for the Bulldogs, allowing one run over the final 4.2 innings. Wichrowski earned the win with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. He struck out six.

Game Information
Bryant 8, Liberty 2
Records: Bryant 2-7 | Liberty 6-5
Location: Worthington Field (Lynchburg, Va.)
W|L|S: Brett Wichrowski (1-0) | T. Cooper

Key Moment

• Bryant broke a 2-2 tie with a four-run seventh inning. Hosmer started the rally with an opposite field home run that proved to be the difference.

How it Happened

• Both starting pitchers settled in and the game went scoreless for the first four innings.
• Bryant's defense helped Turner out, turning line drives into double plays in the second and fourth. In the second, Carmine Petosa snared a line drive at first and tagged the runner coming back to the bag. In the fourth, Gustin caught a line drive at second and threw back to second to double off the runner.
• The Bulldogs broke the deadlock in the fifth thanks to a two-run single from Barnum. Jackson Phinney walked with one out and Hosmer followed with a ground-rule double. Barnum then knocked an 0-2 pitch into center to score both.
• Liberty got a run back with a double in the bottom of the fifth but Phinney and Stansky stifled any other rally. Phinney threw out a runner that hadn't been caught stealing since 2020, while Stansky ended the inning with a strikeout.
• The Flames tied the game in the sixth with a ground-rule double to left center. Wichrowski stranded runners on second and third with a strikeout.
• Bryant took control of the game with a four-run seventh inning. Hosmer homered to open the inning, clearing the right field wall with an opposite field home run. An infield single and a fielding error put two on with one out. After a ground out advanced the runners, Gustin hit a pop up to shallow center that the Flames defense lost in the sun. The ball fell between the center fielder and second baseman, allowing two runs to score. Brian Schaub followed with a single through the left side to score Gustin and make it 6-2.
• Liberty tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh but Wichrowski battled back. After walking the first two, Wichrowski struck out the next three to end the rally.
• The Black and Gold extended its lead in the eighth as Smith laced a two-run triple off the top of the center field wall.

Stats and Game Notes

• Bryant is now 3-7 in 10 all-time meetings with Liberty.
• Turner allowed one run on three hits, walked two and struck out three in 4.1 innings.
• Stansky allowed one run on three hits, walked one and struck out two. In 1.1 innings.
• Wichrowski earned the victory with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit, walked two and struck out six.
• Wichrowski matched his career-high with the six strikeouts.
• Hosmer finished 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run and three runs scored.
• Hosmer's home run was his first as a Bulldog and the 19^th of his career.
• Gustin's two RBI give him 100 for his career.
• Gustin extended his on-base streak to 17 games dating back to last season.
• Barnum collected a two-run single.
• Smith finished 1-for-5 with a two-run triple. Smith has now reached safely in all nine games this season.
• Dulin posted his second multi-hit game of the season.

Up Next
Bryant travels to Davidson, N.C., next weekend to face the Wildcats. The series begins Friday afternoon.