Bryant topples UAlbany, 11-6, on Saturday

ALBANY, N.Y. – Austin Wainer delivered a career-high seven innings and Jackson Phinney finished a triple shy of the cycle as the Bryant baseball team defeated UAlbany, 11-6, in the series opener between the two teams on Saturday afternoon at Varsity Field.

The Bulldogs improve to 17-10 overall and 6-1 in America East with the victory. Bryant has won each of its last six games and is 16-3 since starting the year 1-7. The Bulldogs and Great Danes wrap up their weekend series with a doubleheader on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.

After getting lifted in the seventh in each of his last two starts, Wainer shook off a rocky first to finish seven strong innings on the mound. He allowed four runs on four hits in the first but limited UAlbany to just one hit over the next six innings to earn his first win of the season.

Phinney homered and doubled in a 3-for-5 afternoon. Zac Zyons added a home run and two RBI, while Daniel Baruch's two-run double in the third gave Bryant a lead it wouldn't relinquish. All nine batters in the Bryant lineup reached base safely at least once.

Game Information
Bryant 11, UAlbany 6
Records: Bryant 17-10, 6-1 AE | UAlbany 4-17, 3-3 AE
Location: Varsity Field (Albany, N.Y.)
W|L|S: Austin Wainer (1-1) | Locklear (0-2)

Key Moments

• Baruch gave Bryant a 5-4 lead with a two-out, two-run double in the top of the third. He also made two diving catches in right center to take away extra-bases.

How it Happened

• Bryant opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the first. Zyons got it going as he launched the first pitch of the game down the right field line for a leadoff home run. Noriega followed with a double to right center and scored on a single from Durand. A wild pitch would eventually score Durand with the third run.
• UAlbany got all three runs back in the bottom of the first as the first two batters reached and Ferremi followed with a three-run home run. A two-out single to center gave UAlbany a 4-3 lead.
• The Black and Gold retook the lead with a pair of runs in the third. Noriega walked and Petosa moved him to third with a double into the right field corner. Baruch followed with a two-out, two-run double down the left field line, making it 5-4 in favor of the Bulldogs.
• Phinney extended Bryant's lead with a towering solo home run in the sixth, his third of the season.
• Bryant add two more runs in the eighth. Chris Einemann doubled home a run and then scored as Zyons singled over the second baseman's head.
• The Black and Gold added three runs in the ninth. Two wild pitches brought in the first two runs, and Einemann's fielder's choice made it 11-4.
• UAlbany added two runs in the bottom of the ninth to close the scoring.

Inside the Box Score

• Bryant outhit UAlbany, 10-8.
• Wainer worked 7.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out five.
• After allowing four runs on four hits in the first, Wainer allowed just a fourth-inning single over his final six innings.
• Jack Pletter pitched the final 2.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out two.
• Phinney finished 3-for-5 with a home run, double, RBI and two runs scored.
• Zyons hit a leadoff home run and finished 2-of-5 with two RBI.
• Noriega scored a pair of runs and doubled.
• Einemann finished the day with a pair of RBI.

Game Notes

• Bryant improves to 7-0 all-time vs UAlbany.
• The Bulldogs are now 16-3 after starting the season 1-7.
• Petosa extended his on-base streak to 27 games this season and 30 dating back to last season.
• Petosa has now doubled in each of his last two games.
• Zyons has homered three times in his last four games and has four home runs on the season. 
• Zyons has posted two RBI in each of his last four games.
• Phinney has now homered three times this season and 17 times in his career. He is now tied with Mickey Gasper and Jamie Skagerlind for 10^th in DI program history.
• Phinney matched his career high with his sixth-career three-hit game.

Up Next
Bryant and UAlbany wrap up their weekend series on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. Game one will be seven innings, with a nine-inning game to wrap up the series.