Bulldogs head down I-95 to face George Mason in weekend series

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team returns to the east coast and heads down the I-95 corridor this weekend to play a three-game series against Atlantic-10 member George Mason in Fairfax, Va. First pitch in Friday's opener is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

The Black and Gold (6-1) are off to their best start in Division I program history and just completed a 2-1 weekend in the inaugural Tony Gwynn Classic in San Diego. The Patriots are 1-6 on the year and are coming off a 1-0 loss to Cal State Northridge on Thursday afternoon. Bryant and Mason have met once before, with the Patriots taking two-of-three from the Black and Gold in 2012.

Bryant earned a lot of attention for its offensive performance last weekend against high-level competition. Leading the way was senior first baseman Robby Rinn (Warwick, R.I.), who went 8-for-12 with three doubles, four RBI and four runs scored in the three games. He's hitting .406 on the season, while classmate AJ Zarozny (Shrewsbury, Mass.) is also hitting .400 after going 7-for-13, including a four-double effort, last weekend in San Diego.

The Black and Gold have pitched the ball well this season too with sophomore James Karinchak (Walden, N.Y.) setting the tone on Friday's. Karinchak has won his first two starts, posting a 1.50 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 12 innings. Junior Brandon Bingel (Peabody, Mass.) will get the ball on Saturday looking to rebound from a tough outing last weekend and James Davitt (Wallingford, Conn.) will take the Sunday and is coming off a career-high seven strikeouts against No. 22 Kentucky.

Bryant has also leaned on lefty sophomore relievers Justin Snyder (Georgetown, Mass.) and Logan Lessard (Cromwell, Conn.). The duo has combined to strike out 18 and allow just three hits in 11 2/3 innings of relief. Snyder has fanned 15 in 8 2/3, while Lessard is a perfect 3-for-3 in save opportunities and has yet to allow a hit.

George Mason is off to a slow start this season, dropping three games at USC Upstate and a series to Rutgers. The Patriots are hitting .271 as a team and but have posted a 7.62 team ERA in the first six games. Brady Acker has led the offense, hitting .478 with two home runs and seven RBI. Michael Smith is second on the team with eight hits and has scored a team-high five runs.

On the mound, Tyler Zombro, Joe Williams and Bryce Nightengale will start for Mason during the series. Zombro is 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA but has walked just one in 11 innings, while Williams has allowed eight runs in 10 innings pitched. Nightengale has walked seven, struck out three but has allowed just nine hits in 7 1/3 innings.

All three games this weekend will be streamed live on the Atlantic-10 digital network.