Bryant downs No. 12 East Carolina, 10-2, on Opening Day

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Collin Lowe tossed five shutout innings and Derek Smith had three hits and three runs scored as the Bryant University baseball team defeated No. 12 East Carolina, 10-2, on Opening Day.

The victory is Bryant's first over a ranked team since 2017 and matches its victory over Arkansas in the 2013 Manhattan (Kan.) Regional for its highest win against a ranked opponent.

Making his Bryant debut on Opening Night, Lowe set the tone for the Black and Gold. He allowed just four hits, walked one and struck out three over 5.0 scoreless innings. John MacDonald and Kevin Sylvestri combined to finish the game, with MacDonald tossing 3.0 innings.

Smith led Bryant's offense, going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored from the cleanup spot. Tommy DiTullio also chipped in three hits, while Alex Lane and Logan Allen each had two hits and two RBI.

Game Information
Bryant 10, No. 12 East Carolina 2
Records: Bryant 1-0, ECU 0-1
Location: Clark LeClair Stadium (Greenville, N.C.)
W|L|S: Collin Lowe (1-0) | G. Saylor (0-1)

Key Moment

• ECU looked poised to take the lead in the first inning after a one-out triple. Lowe, however, struck out the next batter looking before inducing a soft ground ball to short to end the threat.              

How it Happened

• Bryant jumped ahead with one swing of the bat on Friday. Smith worked a walk to start the second and Lane followed with a rocket over the left field wall to make it 2-0.
• Lowe kept it there as he induced an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play in the second and stranded two runners in the third.
• The Bulldogs expanded their lead with three runs in the fifth. DiTullio and Allen opened the inning with back-to-back infield singles. Damaurys Rodriguez then fell behind in the count but was able to put the ball in play and his soft liner bounced past the second baseman, allowing a run to score.
• John Tuccillo made it hurt, bringing home a run with a single through the left side and Smith followed with an RBI double off the top of the left field wall to make it 5-0.
• Bryant's went to 7-0 on a pair of wild pitches in the seventh.   
• The Bulldogs closed their scoring with three runs in the ninth. Stan DeMartinis III drove in the first run with a sac fly and Allen followed with a two-run single through the left side.

Stats

• Bryant finished with 11 hits and played error-free baseball.
• Lowe threw 76 pitches over 5.0 scoreless innings. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out three.
• MacDonald allowed two runs on three hits, walked one and struck out two over 3.0 innings of relief.
• Sylvestri pitched a scoreless ninth.
• Smith finished 3-for-4 with a walk, double, RBI and three runs scored.
• DiTullio also added three hits and scored a run.
• Lane homered and drove in two.
• Allen had two hits and drove in two in his Bryant debut.
• Carmine Petosa walked three times in five plate appearances.

Game Notes

• Bryant defeated a ranked opponent for the first time since 2017 (No. 25 UConn).
• The Bulldogs defeated the No. 12 team in the country for the second time (2013, No. 12 Arkansas).
• Smith posted his fourth-career three-hit game and his 17th-career multi-hit game.
• Lane was making his first appearance since 2020 after missing all of 2021 with injury. He now has three career home runs.
• Allen was also playing for the first time since 2020.
• DeMartinis made his collegiate debut and picked up his first-career RBI.
• Matt Smith came on as a pinch runner and scored his first run as a Bulldog.
• DiTullio set a career-high with the first three-hit game of his career.
• Lowe's outing was his longest since going 7.0 innings on March 7, 2020.  

Up Next
Bryant and East Carolina continue their series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.