Phinney's grand slam lifts Bryant to sweep of CCSU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Jackson Phinney capped a five-run seventh inning with a go-ahead grand slam as the Bryant University baseball team completed a weekend sweep of Central Connecticut with a 7-6 victory on Sunday afternoon at Conaty Park.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 25-23 overall and 15-9 in the Northeast Conference. The Bulldogs are now in sole possession of second place in the standings, a game behind first-place LIU. Bryant is now 13-3 at home.

Trailing 6-2 in the seventh, Bryant was able to bring home a run with two hit batters and a seeing-eye single to right. Carmine Petosa was then hit by the first pitch from reliever Jake Neuman to load the bases with two outs. Ahead in the count 1-0, Phinney launched a breaking ball onto the practice putting green in left field for his first-career grand slam, giving Bryant a 7-6 lead. The home run was Phinney's second of the game and third of the series.

GRAND SLAM JACKSON PHINNEY!

His second home run of the game is a grand slam and Bryant has the lead! pic.twitter.com/uUhhlaETiw

— Bryant Baseball (@_BryantBaseball) May 15, 2022

Coleman Picard capped off an outstanding performance by Bryant's relief corps, retiring six of the seven batters he faced to earn his second save. Austin Wainer earned the win with 2.0 innings of scoreless relief.

Game Information
Bryant 7, Central Connecticut 6
Records: Bryant 25-23, 15-9 NEC | CCSU 24-16, 14-10 NEC
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Austin Wainer (1-0) | Jake Neuman (2-1) | Coleman Picard (2)

Key Moment

• Phinney's first-career grand slam gave Bryant a 7-6 lead in the seventh inning.   

How it Happened

• The first four batters in the CCSU lineup singled, bringing home two runs in the first.
• The Blue Devils got back after it in the second, scoring two more runs on four more singles.
• A solo home run in the third pushed the CCSU lead to 5-0.
• Bryant got on the board in the fourth as Smith tripled and scored on a Kelly ground out.
• The Bulldogs had a great chance in the fifth, loading the bases before a line out to left ended the rally.
• Phinney brought Bryant within four with a towering solo home run to left center in the sixth.
• In the seventh, Matt Woods and Jake Gustin were both hit to put the first two runners on. Derek Smith's seeing-eye single scored Woods to make it 6-3. After a fielder's choice, Neuman was brought in to face Petosa and hit him with the first pitch. Phinney then launched a 1-0 pitch well over the left field wall for his first-career grand slam and a 7-6 Bryant lead.
• Picard retired the Blue Devils in the eighth and ninth to close it out. In the ninth, Petosa started a sterling 3-3-5 double play after CCSU put the first runner on.

Stats and Game Notes

• Bryant won four of the six meetings between the two teams this regular season.
• The Bulldogs are alone in second place in the NEC standings.
• Bryant's win, combined with Wagner's loss in game three of their series, clinched a spot in the 2022 NEC Tournament.
• Woods finished with two hits, his 23rd multiple-hit game.
• Smith went 2-for-2 with two walks and a hit by pitch. He finished the series by going 5-for-5 over the last two games.
• Phinney homered twice and drove in five runs. He now has eight home runs on the year.
• Phinney hit three home runs and drove in seven during the series.
• Logan Frasier allowed five runs on nine hits over 3.0 innings. He didn't walk a batter and had one strikeout.
• Liam LeVangie allowed one unearned run over 2.0 innings of relief. He didn't walk a batter and struck out two.
• Wainer tossed 2.0 scoreless innings. He walked two and struck out two.
• Picard earned the save with 2.0 scoreless innings of relief.  

Up Next
Bryant will play its final non-conference game of the regular season when it hosts nationally-ranked UConn on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. at Conaty Park.