Bryant wins game one in extras, game two suspended due to darkness

KINGSTON, R.I. – Alex Lane hit a grand slam to highlight a five-run 10th inning as the Bryant University baseball team defeated in-state rival Rhode Island in game one of Friday's doubleheader at Bill Beck Field. Game two was suspended in the bottom of the seventh due to darkness.

URI is leading game two, 11-8, with a runner on third and two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Game one was a scheduled seven-inning contest but URI tied the game in the sixth and seventh with solo home runs. Kevin Sylvestri pitched Bryant out of trouble in the bottom of the ninth before a HBP broke the deadlock and Lane expanded the lead with his first-career grand slam.

Matt Woods went 5-for-5 with two RBI and Derek Smith was 2-for-3 with four runs scored in the opener. Collin Lowe allowed two runs on five hits, walked one and struck out 10 over 7.0 innings. Sylvestri earned his first collegiate win and John MacDonald posted the save.     

Game Information
Bryant 8, Rhode Island 6
Records: Bryant 5-9, URI 1-14
Location: Bill Beck Field (Kingston, R.I.)
W|L|S: Kevin Sylvestri (1-0) | Zach Fernandez (0-3) | John MacDonald (1)

Key Moment

• Sylvestri entered with runners on second and third and two outs in the ninth inning. He got a ground ball to short that Logan Allen alertly threw home to nab the runner for the second out. After an intentional walk, Sylvestri got a strikeout to leave the bases loaded.
• In the 10th, a walk and two singles loaded the bases for Michael Stellato who was hit by an 0-1 pitch to break the deadlock. Lane then fell behind 0-2 before working back even and then cranking a grand slam to make it 8-3.                    

How it Happened

• Bryant grabbed the lead in the second as Derek Smith reached and scored on a throwing error after Woods singled.
• URI would tie the game at 1-1 in the third.
• Bryant regained the lead in the fourth. Derek Smith singled to center and advanced to third as the ball was misplayed. Woods then scored him with a single to second.
• It remained 2-1 until Anthony DePino tied the game with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh.
• In the top of the eighth, Derek Smith was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a triple from Woods.
• Once again, URI tied the game on a home run as Addison Kopack knotted things with a two-out homer in the bottom of the eighth.
• A fielding error put runners on second and third for URI in the ninth. Sylvestri entered and got a ground ball to short. Allen threw home to nab the runner for the second out. After an intentional walk, Sylvestri struck out Jack Cucinotta swinging to end the inning.
• Bryant was able to break the deadlock in the tenth as Stellato was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Lane followed with a grand slam to make it 8-3.
• The Rams plated three runs in the 10th with back-to-back doubles. URI eventually put the tying runs on base but MacDonald was able to get a pop up to end the game.      

Stats and Game Notes

• URI outhit Bryant, 10-9.
• Woods finished 5-for-5 with two RBI.
• The five hits are a career-high for Woods.
• Derek Smith went 2-for-3 with four runs scored.
• Lane hit his first-career grand slam.
• Lowe allowed two runs on five hits, walked one and struck out 10 in 7.0 innings. The 10 strikeouts are a season-high.  

Up Next
Bryant and URI will complete game two on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. The series finale will follow.