Bryant walks off Merrimack on Greger squeeze

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Gavin Greger's safety squeeze in the bottom of the ninth capped a furious comeback for Bryant Baseball as the Bulldogs rallied from 8-1 down to defeat Merrimack, 9-8, on Wednesday afternoon at Conaty Park.

Bryant improves to 2-7 with the win. It marks Bryant's first home win at renovated Conaty Park.

Trailing 8-1 in the seventh, Bryant scored twice in the seventh, five times in the eighth and then walked it off in the ninth. Justin Hackett capped Bryant's five-run eighth with a bases-clearing double and Greger scored Tyler Horvat (HBP) with a perfectly executed safety squeeze in the bottom of the ninth.  

Game Information
Bryant 9, Merrimack 8
Records: Bryant 2-7 | Merrimack 2-8
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Zach Nichols (1-0) | Dragon (1-2)

Key Moments

• Hackett tied the game with a three-run double in the eighth and Greger plated the winning run with a safety squeeze in the ninth.

How it Happened

• The Warriors scored five times in the third to take the lead. Alex Haba hit the first pitch from the Bryant reliever for a grand slam to make it 4-0. A fifth run came across on a two-out single.
• Gavin Noriega got Bryant on the board with a long solo home run to right field in the fourth. It was his seventh of the season.   
• Merrimack would add a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to take an 8-1 lead.
• Bryant got a pair of runs back in the seventh. Carmine Petosa drove in a run with a fielder's choice and a second run scored on a two-out throwing error.
• The Black and Gold then rallied for five runs in the eighth, tying the game at 8-8. Two HBPs and a walk opened the inning before two walks brought home runs to make it 8-5. Hackett then laced a double into the left field corner to score all three runners, tying the game.
• Reliever Zach Nichols then worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth. He got a strikeout of the No. 4 hitter and then snared a comebacker to end the threat.
• In the bottom of the ninth, Horvat was hit by a pitch and then took second on a ball in the dirt. Horvat then stole third to setup Greger's safety squeeze.

Inside the Box Score

• Merrimack outhit Bryant, 12-5.
• Greger finished 2-for-5 with an RBI.
• Noriega homered and scored twice.
• Petosa walked three times in the game.
• Hackett drove in three with a double.
• Lewis Barnum walked twice and scored twice.
• Morrissey allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits over 2.0 innings. He walked two and struck out three.
• Mark Scamardella allowed two runs on three hits in an inning of work.
• Toby Scheidt tossed a scoreless fourth.
• Trey Deitelbaum allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits in 1.1 innings of relief.
• Bradley Lewis delivered 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
• Colin Brodeur recorded four outs, striking out the side in the eighth.
• Zach Nichols earned his first win, recording the final two outs.

Game Notes

• Morrissey made his first collegiate start after 43 career relief appearances.
• Noriega has now homered seven times in the first nine games of the year.
• Petosa drew a pair of walks and now has 12 in the first nine games of the year.
• Horvat started his first game in right field and registered his first hit as a Bulldog.

Up Next
Bryant continues its homestand this weekend with a three-game series against Iona. The series is set to begin on Friday, March 8 at 3:00 p.m.