Wainer, Pletter toss shutout as Bryant takes opener at NJIT

LITTLE FALLS, N.J. – Austin Wainer tossed 6.0 shutout innings and the Bryant baseball team slugged three home runs as it opened its weekend with an 11-0 victory over NJIT on Friday night at Yogi Berra Stadium.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 29-14 overall and 14-2 in America East play. Bryant is now 28-7 in its last 35 games and improved has won all four its road games in league play.

Carmine Petosa paced Bryant's offensive attack, going 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBI. He has now reached in all 43 games this season and 46-straight dating back to last year. Gavin Noriega hit his 15^th home run of the season, setting the single-season program record. Zac Zyons (2-4, 2B, 2RBI, 3R) and Gavin Greger each had two hits, while Daniel Baruch homered for the second straight game.

Wainer allowed six hits, walked one and struck out five over 6.0 scoreless to earn his fifth win. Jack Pletter then retired 12 of the final 13 batters to close it out. He didn't allow a hit and struck out two.

Game Information
Bryant 11, NJIT 0
Records: Bryant 29-14, 14-2 | NJIT 17-24, 6-9
Location: Yogi Berra Stadium (Little Falls, N.J.)
W|L|S: Austin Wainer (5-1) | Kidd | Jack Pletter (1)

Key Moments

• Petosa set the tone with a three-run home run in the top of the first.

How it Happened

• Petosa opened the weekend with a bang as he launched a 2-2 pitch down the right field for a three-run home run in the first.
• Bryant extended its lead with three runs in the top of the second. Chris Einemann singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored as Zyons doubled into the right center gap. Three batters later, Petosa singled up the middle to drive in two more and make it 6-0.
• The Bulldogs added two more in the sixth as Zyons singled home Justin Hackett and then scored on an infield error.
• Noriega pushed Bryant's lead to 10-0 with a towering two-run shot to right center in the eighth inning.
• Baruch closed the scoring with a home run to dead center in the top of the ninth.

Inside the Box Score

• Bryant outhit NJIT, 12-6.
• Wainer tossed 6.0 shutout innings to earn the win. He allowed six hits, walked one and struck out five.
• Pletter retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced over 3.0 scoreless to earn the save.
• Petosa finished 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBI.
• Zyons went 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.
• Noriega finished 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
• Baruch homered in his only at-bat of the game.
• Greger picked up two hits.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 5-2 all-time vs NJIT.
• The Bulldogs are now 28-7 in their last 35 after starting the season 1-7.
• Bryant is now 14-2 in league play, including a perfect 4-0 on the road.
• The shutout is Bryant's first since May 14, 2022.
• Petosa extended his on-base streak to 43 games this season and 46 dating back to last season with his three-run home run in the first inning. It is the second longest on-base streak in program history. Robby Rinn reached in 50 straight during the 2016 season.
• Petosa clubbed his 23^rd career home run, tying him with Nick Angelini and Ryan Ward for the second-most in DI program history.
• Petosa is also tied for the 10th most home runs in a single season in DI program history with nine.
• Noriega's home run was his 15^th of the season, setting a new single-season program record.
• Zyons extended his on-base streak to 23 games and is now hitting .452 with a .500 OBP in league play.
• Greger now has hits in eight of his last nine games. He has three-straight multi-hit games.
• Wainer moved into ninth place in DI program history with 152 career strikeouts.
• Wainer has now tossed at least 6.0 innings in all six of his league starts. He is now 4-0 with a 1.89 ERA against league opponents.
• Pletter his season high with 3.0 innings of relief. He has allowed one run on three hits over his last two outings (6.0 innings).
• Baruch hit his seventh home run of the season and has now homered in back-to-back games.

Up Next
Bryant and NJIT will wrap up their series on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.