Phinney drives in six as Bryant completes sweep of Iona

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Jackson Phinney hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs to lead the Bryant baseball team to a 12-6 victory and a series sweep of Iona on Sunday at Conaty Park.

Bryant improves to 5-7 overall and wrapped up its first series sweep of the season. The Bulldogs went 4-0 at home on the week and will wrap up their five-game homestand on Tuesday vs Stonehill (3:00 p.m.).

Phinney drove in his six runs in a variety of ways on Sunday, scoring a run on a safety squeeze, a single to left and a grand slam to right center. Daniel Baruch walked twice, was HBP and scored four times. Six Iona pitchers walked 11 and hit three more in the game.

Jared Burrows and Zach Nichols combined to throw 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to close out the series sweep. Burrows earned his first win of the year, while Nichols notched his second save.

Game Information
Bryant 12, Iona 6
Records: Bryant 5-7 | Iona 2-11
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Jared Burrows (1-2) | Chiaia (1-5) | Zach Nichols (2)

Key Moments

• Phinney broke a 6-6 tie with an RBI single in the seventh and then put the game away with a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth.

How it Happened

• Iona grabbed the lead on Sunday with an RBI single in the top of the first.
• Bryant responded with three runs in the bottom half. Baruch fisted a ball into right field for an RBI single and Shea Grady followed with a single over the second baseman's head to make it 2-1. Phinney then placed a perfect safety squeeze to bring home the third run.
• The Bulldogs extended the lead to 6-1 with a run in the second and two more in the third. Gavin Noriega scored Chris Einemann with a sac fly in the second, while a throwing error helped Bryant score in the third. Einemann scored the second run of the inning with a double to right center.
• Iona then tied the game with two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth. Zollo and Ragsdale scored runs with extra-base hits in the fifth, while Frias scored two with a double to right center in the sixth. Burrows came on relief with Bryant leading 6-5 and was able to allow just one more run on a sac fly to keep the game tied.
• Bryant was able to regain the lead in the seventh. Baruch was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a sac bunt and scored as Phinney singled to left field.
• Iona put a runner on in the top of the eighth but Nichols was able to get Ragsdale to pop up on the first pitch to escape trouble.
• The Black and Gold then scored five insurance runs to put the game away. A double steal from Gavin Greger and Noriega resulted in a throwing error that allowed Greger to score. Two walks later, Phinney lifted a deep drive to right field for a grand slam to make it 12-6.

Inside the Box Score

• Iona outhit Bryant, 7-6.
• Greger walked three times in the contest.
• Phinney went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and six RBI.
• Baruch went 1-for-2 with four runs scored. He walked twice and was HBP.
• Einemann reached four times with a double, two walks and an HBP.
• Noriega scored twice and drove in a run.
• Tyler Horvat delivered 5.0 innings in the start. He allowed five runs on five hits, walked one and struck out four.
• Burrows struck out three over 2.1 scoreless innings.
• Nichols earned the save with 1.1 scoreless innings.

Game Notes

• Carmine Petosa drew a walk and now has 17 walks in the first 12 games.
• Baruch scored a career-high four runs.
• Phinney's six RBI are a career high. The grand slam is his second as a Bulldog.
• Burrows earned his first win as a Bulldog and his first collegiate win since his freshman season at Hartford in 2021.

Up Next
Bryant wraps up its five-game homestand on Tuesday when it hosts Stonehill at 3:00 p.m.