Bryant sweeps No. 12 East Carolina

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Pinch-runner Matt Smith scored on a wild pitch in the top of the ninth inning to break a 3-3 tie and send the Bryant University baseball team to a 4-3 victory and series sweep of No. 12 East Carolina on Sunday afternoon.  

With the win, the Bulldogs became the first team in Northeast Conference baseball history to sweep a three-game series from a nationally ranked opponent. Bryant is also 3-0 for the first time since 2016.

Sunday's victory was made possible by more key two-out hits and big pitches. Bryant grabbed a 3-1 lead with three-straight two-out hits in the fifth and scored the winning run on a wild pitch with two outs in the ninth. Alex Lane opened the top of the ninth with a pinch-hit double and pinch runner Matt Smith was able to scamper home on a wild pitcher two batters later.

Liam LeVangie closed the door on the sweep, getting a fly ball to center to leave the tying run on base. The third year righty struck out four over 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. Logan Frasier allowed one run on five hits over 4.0 innings in his first start as a Bulldog.

Logan Allen had two hits and an RBI and nine-hole hitter Tommy DiTullio reached safely twice and scored two runs.  

Game Information
Bryant 4, No. 12 East Carolina 3
Records: Bryant 3-0, ECU 0-3
Location: Clark LeClair Stadium (Greenville, N.C.)
W|L|S: Liam LeVangie (1-0) | Nick Logusch (0-1)

Key Moment

• The Pirates got a leadoff double to start the eighth and pushed the runner to third with a sac bunt. LeVangie bared down, getting a pair of strikeouts to end the threat and keep the game tied.               

How it Happened

• Bryant opened the scoring with three-straight two-out singles in the top of the third. DiTullio singled to deep short and Matt Woods followed with a bunt in front of the plate. He was ruled out but the umpires reviewed the play and called him safe. Allen followed with a bloop single to left to make it 1-0.
• ECU answered quickly, tying the game in the bottom of the third. A bases-loaded walk tied the game and it appeared the Pirates might break it open. Frasier, however, struck out the next batter and then induced an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
• Three-straight two-out singles led to two more runs for the Bulldogs in the fifth. Allen's two-out knock moved DiTullio into scoring position and Damaurys Rodriguez followed with a bullet to right to make it 2-1. Derek Smith followed with a single to left to make it 3-1. Both RBI singles came on 1-2 pitches.
• It remained 3-1 until the Pirates opened the seventh with three-straight singles to make it 3-2. ECU then tied the game with a bases-loaded walk but LeVangie kept it there, coming out of the bullpen to get a pop up to center on the first pitch.
• LeVangie worked out of trouble again in the eighth, getting a pair of strikeouts to strand a runner at third.
• In the ninth, Lane led off with a double to left center. Smith pinch ran and moved to third on a ground out from Woods. The first pitch to Allen skipped past the catcher, allowing Smith to score.
• LeVangie then struck out the first two batters in the ninth before issuing a walk. He then got a fly ball to center to end the game.

Stats

• ECU outhit Bryant, 9-7.
• The Bulldogs played error-free baseball for the second time this weekend.
• Frasier allowed one run on five hits, walked two and struck out two in 4.0 innings.
• Brett Wichrowski allowed two runs on three hits, walked two and struck out two over 2.2 innings of relief.
• LeVangie struck out four over 2.1 scoreless innings to earn the win.
• Allen finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
• Rodriguez and Smith each drove in a run.
• DiTullio singled, walked and scored two runs.

Game Notes

• Bryant swept a series from a ranked team for the first time in program history.
• The Bulldogs are also the first team in NEC history to sweep a ranked team.
• All four of Bryant's runs came with two outs on Sunday.
• Smith has now reached safely in 12-straight games dating back to last year.
• Woods has reached safely in 11-straight dating back to last year.
• Allen finished 6-for-12 with three RBI and four runs scored on the weekend.
• Smith was 5-for-11 with three RBI.
• DiTullio and Woods each finished with four hits on the weekend.
• Bryant's starting pitchers allowed two runs on 12 hits, walked three and struck out 10 in 14.0 innings of work.
• As a staff, Bryant allowed just 23 hits, walked 13 and struck out 24.   

Up Next
Bryant returns to North Carolina next weekend, facing Davidson in a three-game series beginning on Friday, Feb. 25.