Tigers score three in eighth, hang on for game one victory

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Towson scored three runs in the eighth inning to break a tie and then held on for a 12-11 victory over the Bryant University baseball team in game one of their doubleheader on Monday morning at Harford Community College.

The Bulldogs (1-7) rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to score eight-straight runs, but the Tigers (1-8) used a six-run sixth inning to retake the lead before winning the game in the eighth.

Bryant entered the eighth trailing by a run but was able to tie the score on a two-out single from sophomore Matt Albanese (East Haddam, Conn.). Cole Fabio (Mahwah, N.J.) walked to open the inning, moved to second on a sac bunt and scored as Albanese knocked a 3-2 pitch into right field.

Towson responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame to grab the lead for good. A double and back-to-back walks loaded the bases with no outs and Spencer Sutton followed with a single up the middle to break the tie. A throwing error on an infield ground ball allowed a second run to score and Brendan Butler capped the inning with a sac fly to right.

Bryant had one final rally in them but stranded the potential tying run on base. Robby Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) singled to open the inning, Zane Smith (Ilion, N.Y.) reached on a dropped third strike and Fabio singled to load the bases with one out. Michael Lanza (Elmsford, N.Y.) then grounded to third base but the Tigers were only able to get one out at second. The return throw to first sailed wide, however, allowing two runs to score. The rally fell short, though, as Bruce Zimmerman induced a comebacker.

The Tigers got on the board first Monday morning, scoring three times on five-consecutive hits in the third inning. After a single opened the inning, Mark Grunberg, Peter Bowles and Sutton hit consecutive doubles to right center to bring home three runs.

Bryant used a six-run fifth inning to score the next eight runs and take an 8-3 lead after five and a half innings. Buck McCarthy (Saugus, Mass.) opened the fifth with a triple and Smith struck out but reached on a dropped third strike. An infield error allowed McCarthy to score and Jacob Marotta's (Bridgewater, Mass.) sac bunt attempt was thrown away, bringing home a second run. AJ Zarozny (Shrewsbury, Mass.) tied the game with a ground out and the Bulldogs grabbed their first lead as Marotta scored on another dropped third strike. Rinn capped the big inning with a two-run double to left field.

The Black and Gold went on to plate two more runs in the sixth. Smith and Fabio opened the inning with singles and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Zarozny followed with a two-run single to right center to make it an 8-3 game.

Bryant's lead was short-lived as Towson responded with a six-run sixth of its own. A walk and an RBI double chased starter Trevor Lacosse (Watervliet, N.Y.) and the Tigers greeted Brandon Bingel (Peabody, Mass.) with back-to-back singles to bring home a run. A sac fly made it 8-6 and Sutton delivered the big blow with a three-run home run to center to make it 9-8.

Lacosse allowed five runs on eight hits, walked four and struck out just one batter over five innings. Bingel allowed four runs on three hits in an inning of work, while Logan Lessard (Cromwell, Conn.) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits over two innings. He walked three and struck out three.

Fabio finished the day 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Albanese (2-5) and Rinn (2-5, 2RBI) each contributed a pair of hits. Zarozny finished with three RBI and Smith matched Fabio with three runs scored.