Long ball lifts Bryant past UMBC, 9-8

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Luke Delongchamp struck out six over 6.0 scoreless and the Bryant baseball team hit four home runs in a 9-8 victory over UMBC in game one of Saturday's doubleheader at Conaty Park.

The Bulldogs improve to 14-10 overall and 4a-1 in the America East with the victory. Bryant also claimed its second-straight AE weekend series with the win. The Bulldogs and Retrievers wrap up their series later Saturday.

Delongchamp was locked in for the Bulldogs, scattering five hits over 6.0 scoreless. He didn't issue a walk and struck out six.  

Bryant used the long ball to make the dominant outing stand up. The Bulldogs hit a trio of two-run home runs and a solo shot in the victory. Jackson Phinney, Justin Hackett and Zac Zyons all hit two-run shots, while Brandyn Durand added a solo home run.

Game Information
Bryant 9, UMBC 8
Records: Bryant 14-10, 4-1 AE | UMBC 10-13, 3-2 AE
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Luke Delongchamp (2-1) | Jayden Shertel (1-4) |

Key Moments

• Phinney gave Bryant the lead with a two-run shot in the second and Hackett quickly doubled it with a two-run shot in the third.  

How it Happened

• Bryant grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second as Phinney hit a towering two-run home run to left field.
• The Bulldogs doubled their lead in the third as Hackett rode the jet stream to right field for an opposite field two-run home run.
• The long ball continued to help Bryant in the fourth as Durand turned on a 1-2 pitch and drove it over the left field wall for a solo shot.
• UMBC got on the board with a pair of runs in the seventh. The first four batters of the inning reached as a walk was followed by three-straight singles to make it 5-1. Landon White then came on and got a fielder's choice, strikeout and a ground out to limit the damage to just two runs.
• The Black and Gold were able to answer as Zyons launched an 0-1 pitch onto the softball field for a two-run home run. (7-2).
• UMBC then opened the eighth with two singles and Mark Scamardella entered. Chris Einemann slid into the hole at short and fired across the diamond for the first out. A ground out scored a run but Scamardella ended the inning with a ground ball to short.
• Bryant plated two runs in the eighth to make it 9-3. A run scored on a failed pickoff and Daniel Baruch closed the scoring with a deep triple to left center.  
• UMBC made things interesting in the ninth, scoring five times. Derek Paris drove in two with a two-out double to left field to make it 9-7. With two outs and the bases loaded, Buscaglia hit a slow roller towards second. Zyons fielded it and alertly looked for another play and saw the runner round third. He was able to flip it home and Phinney applied the tag for the final out.

Inside the Box Score

• UMBC outhit Bryant, 16-9.
• UMBC made three errors for the second-straight game.
• Delongchamp tossed 6.0 scoreless. He allowed five hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out six.
• Sean Zaslaw was credited with two runs allowed in the seventh.
• Landon White allowed one run on two hits in 1.0 inning of work.
• Mark Scamardella tossed a scoreless inning.
• Zach Nichols recorded the final out for his sixth save.
• Phinney, Hackett and Zyons all hit two-run home runs.
• Zyons finished two hits, two RBI and two runs scored.
• Durand added a solo home run.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 4-1 all-time vs UMBC. All four games have been played at Conaty Park.
• The Black and Gold have now won each of their first two America East series. Bryant has won each of their last four series overall.
• Bryant is now 10-3 at home this season.
• The Bulldogs are also 8-3 in one-run games. All five America East games have been one run.
• Carmine Petosa extended his on-base streak to 24 games this season and 27 dating back to last season.
• Noriega also extended his on-base streak to 24 games
• Durand's home run was his fifth of the season.
• Phinney hit his second home run of the year and the 16^th of his career.
• Hackett's home run was his second of the year and the 5^th of his career.
• Zyons hit his second home run of the year and the sixth of his career.
• Baruch's triple was his second of the season.
• Delongchamp has allowed just three runs over his last three starts (17.0 innings).

Up Next
Bryant and UMBC wrap up their series with game two of the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.