Bryant sweeps Friday doubleheader with pair of walk-offs

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Carmine Petosa and Gavin Noriega delivered walk-off hits as the Bryant baseball team swept an America East doubleheader against Maine on Friday afternoon at Conaty Park.

The Bulldogs improve to 11-9 overall and 2-0 in America East play following the sweep. Bryant and Maine are scheduled to wrap up the series on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.

On Friday, Bryant flipped the script on its luck from 2023. The Bulldogs lost four AE games via the walk-off, including two against Maine, last season. Bryant won game one, 5-4, in the bottom of the eighth and then won game two, 5-4, in the bottom of the 10^th.

In game one, Petosa doubled to right field and Daniel Baruch raced around from first, sliding in just ahead of the throw to win the game. In game two, Noriega slapped a single through the left side to bring home Justin Hackett with the winning run.

Game Information
Bryant 5, Maine 4 (8 innings)
Bryant 5, Maine 4 (10 innings)
Records: Bryant 11-9, 2-0 AE | Maine 2-16, 0-2 AE
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Sean Zaslaw (1-0) | Smaracko (0-2)
W|L|S: Toby Scheidt (1-1) | Gifford (0-2)

Key Moments (Game 1)

• Chris Einemann tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a safety squeeze. Petosa then drove in Baruch from first on a double to right field in the bottom of the eighth.

How it Happened

• Bryant grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-out error by the Black Bears. With two outs and two on, Baruch struck out but the ball skipped up the third base line. The throw to first was in the line and arrived at the same time as Baruch. The collision jarred the ball loose and allowed two runs to score.
• The Bulldogs pushed the lead to 3-0 as Brandyn Durand hit a solo home run to dead center in the third.
• Bryant took a 3-0 lead into the seventh before the Black Bears scored four times to take the lead. Back-to-back doubles opened the inning to make it 3-1. Marquez then singled home a run and Jeremiah Jenkins followed with a two-run home run to make it 4-3 Maine.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Jackson Phinney singled to left field and advanced to third as the Black Bears made an error on a sac bunt. Einemann then scored him with a safety squeeze to make it 4-4.
• Baruch then drew a one-out walk in the eighth and raced all the way around from first as Petosa laced a 2-1 pitch to the right field wall. Baruch slid in head first just ahead of the throw.

Inside the Box Score (Game 1)

• Bryant won despite having just four hits.
• The Bulldogs scored three unearned runs.
• Durand finished 2-of-4 with a home run and two runs scored.
• Baruch walked twice and scored the winning run.
• Petosa drove in the winning run with the double in the eighth.
• Austin Wainer allowed one run on five hits over 6.0 innings. He walked two and struck out six.
• Zach Nichols allowed three runs on four hits over 1.1 innings.
• Sean Zaslaw earned the win, retiring two batters in the top of the eighth.

Key Moments (Game 2)

• Einemann tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with an infield single and Noriega won the game with a single through the left side in the 10^th.

How it Happened

• Maine took the lead with a single to left in the top of the first.
• The Bulldogs answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Phinney reached, advanced to second and then scored as Petosa single through the right side. Gavin Greger then scored Petosa with a ground ball to second and Einemann made it 3-1 with a double down the left field line.
• A Bryant error helped the Black Bears score a run in the fifth and then Maine took the lead with two in the sixth. Friend tied the game with a sac fly and Marquez made it 4-3 with a double to the left field wall.
• Bryant was able to tie the game in the eighth with two outs. Greger walked with two outs and promptly stole second. On the next pitch, Greger took off for third as Einemann hit a hard ground ball back to the pitcher that deflected towards short. Greger never stopped running and scored to tie the game.
• Bryant had a chance to win the game in the ninth but it took to the 10^th to complete the sweep. Toby Scheidt came on in relief and stranded two in the top of the inning.
• In the bottom of the 10^th, Hackett walked and advanced to second on a sac bunt. Shea Grady put runners on the corners with an infield single and Noriega followed with a sharp ground ball through the left side to win the game.

Inside the Box Score (Game 1)

• Maine outhit Bryant, 11-10.
• Grady finished with two hits.
• Noriega had two hits and drove in the winning run.
• Hackett walked three times and scored two runs.
• Einemann picked up two hits and drove in two.
• Luke Delongchamp allowed one run on five hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out six over 4.0 innings.
• Jack Pletter allowed three runs on four hits, walked two and struck out three over 3.0 innings.
• Jared Burrows tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief. He struck out three.
• Scheidt earned the win, recording three outs in the 10^th.

Game Notes

• Bryant improves to 5-4 all-time against Maine.
• The Black and Gold are now 8-2 at home this season.
• Bryant has now won each of its last three weekend series.
• Bryant now has four walk-off wins this season. 
• The Bulldogs have won five games when they've trailed in the seventh inning or later.
• Carmine Petosa extended his on-base streak to 20 games this season and 23 dating back to last season.
• Noriega also extended his on-base streak to 20 games.
• Wainer's outing was the longest of his career.
• Zaslaw earned his first collegiate win in game one.
• Durand's home run was his third of the season.

Up Next
Bryant and Maine wrap up their weekend series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.