Bryant slugs its way to first win, 13-10 over GW

ARLINGTON, Va. – Justin Hackett and Gavin Greger each collected three hits and the Bryant University baseball team hit four home runs as it out slugged George Washington, 13-10, on Friday afternoon at Tucker Field.

With the victory, the Bulldogs are now 1-1 on the season and have scored 10+ runs in each of their first two games. Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

In the series opener, GW held a 5-3 lead after a high-scoring first inning and 6-3 after two. Bryant would rally, scoring five times in the third and three more times in the fifth to pull ahead for good.

Hackett finished 3-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored, while Greger had three hits and four RBI. Gavin Noriega, Brandyn Durand and Evan Blake all homered for the Black and Gold.    

Game Information
Bryant 13, George Washington 10
Records: Bryant 1-1 | GWU 0-4
Location: Tucker Field (Arlington, Va.)
W|L|S: Tyler Tornberg (1-0) | Brayden Kurtz (0-1) | Zach Nichols (1)

Key Moments

• Greger was able to tie the game with a two-run double in the third and Blake followed with a two-run home run two batters later to make it 8-6.

How it Happened

• Bryant used a two-out rally to score three times in the first on Friday. Hackett picked up a two-out single and came around to score on a bases-loaded walk. Greger brought home the final two of the inning with a sharp single to center.
• GW took advantage of a Bryant miscue in the bottom of the first to score five times. Bryan Belo made it 4-3 with a two-run home run and Schwartz followed with a solo shot to make it 5-3 after one.
• Bryant would battle back to take an 11-6 lead with a five-run third and a three-run fifth. In the third, Hackett launched an opposite field home run to right field to start the inning. The two hitters would reach and Greger would tie the game with a two-run double to right center. After a strikeout, Blake lofted a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left center for his first career home run, giving the Bulldogs an 8-6 lead.
• The Black and Gold used the long ball to extend the lead in the fifth. Durand hammered a 2-2 pitch to the deepest part of the ball park for his first home run as a Bulldog. Noriega then demolished a first pitch over the wall in right center for a two-run shot to make it 11-6.
• GW would battle back to make it an 11-10 game with three runs in the sixth and one more in the seventh. An infield single and a two-run double plated the Revolutionaries runs in the sixth. Bryant was able to throw out the runner at third to end the rally.
• In the seventh, a single and two hit batters loaded the bases before a fly ball to right brought home a run.
• Zach Nichols would close it out from there, retiring six of the seven batters he faced for the save.

Inside the Box Score

• GW held a 13-12 advantage in hits.
• The two teams combined to hit seven home runs.
• Austin Wainer allowed six runs (two earned) on seven hits over 4.0 innings. He walked one and struck out two.
• Tyler Tornberg allowed three runs on four hits over 2.0 innings of relief.
• Mark Scamardella pitched the seventh, allowing one run on one hit.
• Nichols retired six of the seven batters he faced to record the six-out save.
• Hackett reached base five times, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two walks and three runs scored.
• Petosa went 1-for-2 with three runs scored.
• Santangelo walked twice and scored two runs.
• Greger finished 3-for-5 with four RBI.
• Durand, Blake and Noriega all homered for the Bulldogs.

Game Notes

• Bryant and GW were meeting for the first time in program history.
• Bryant has now scored 10+ runs in back-to-back games to start the season for the first time in DI program history.
• The Bulldogs have hit six home runs in the first two games of 2024.
• Wainer's 4.0-inning start matched the longest of his career.
• Greger now has three hits in each of the first two games.
• Greger has driven in seven runs in the first two games.
• Hackett has posted back-to-back three-hit games to start the year.
• Hackett's home run was the third of his career.
• Noriega has homered in each of the first two games of the season and has three on the year.
• Durand's home run was his first as a Bulldog and fourth of his collegiate career.
• Blake made his collegiate debut and hit his first career home run on Friday.   
• Nichols made his Bryant debut in relief. He earned his ninth career save.

Up Next
Bryant and George Washington continue their series on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.