Bulldogs rally back but Merrimack wins Wednesday thriller

ANDOVER, Mass. – The Bryant University baseball team rallied back from a five-run deficit to tie the game in the ninth but Merrimack College was able to walk it off with a single in the bottom of the ninth, handing the Bulldogs a 7-6 defeat on Wednesday afternoon.

With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 11-9 overall and are now 1-1 in midweek games. Bryant returns to America East play this weekend with a three-game set at preseason favorite Binghamton.

Bryant trailed 5-0 after five innings, 6-4 after seven and 6-5 after eight before tying the game in the top of the ninth on a bloop single from Brian Schaub.

The first two Merrimack hitters were hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the ninth. A single through the right side brought home the winning run.

Game Information
Merrimack 7, Bryant 6
Records: Bryant 11-9 | Merrimack 5-14
Location: Greater Lawrence Tech (Andover, Mass.)
W|L|S: Hegan | Morrissey (0-1)

Key Moment

• Merrimack walked off with a single through the right side in the bottom of the ninth.

How it Happened

• Merrimack struck for four runs in the second on the back of a solo home run and a three-run home run.  
• The Warriors extended their lead to 5-0 on an unearned run in the fifth.
• Bryant made it a game in the sixth, scoring four times after there were two outs and no one on. Brian Schaub and Jacob Gaudreau walked, and Lewis Barnum battled back from down 0-2 to get hit on a 3-2 pitch. Jake Gustin then walked to bring in the first run and Derek Smith greeted the new reliever with a sharp two-run single to left to make it 5-3. Two batters later, Gustin took off from third on a swinging strike three and was able to leap over the tag of the catcher and score to make it a one-run game.
• Merrimack was able to answer in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with two singles and a HBP. A pitch squirted to the back stop, allowing a run to score.
• Gustin pulled Bryant within a run with a towering solo home run in the top of the eight.
• In the ninth, John Hosmer hit a pop up to shallow right that fell between two fielders. Hosmer hustled into second with a double. Three batters later, Schaub hit a sinking drive to center that dropped in, scoring Hosmer from second with the tying run.
• Merrimack grabbed some momentum, however, ending the rally with a 6-4-3 double play. In the bottom of the inning, the first two Merrimack batters reached on HBPs. A single through the right side ended the game.  

Inside the Box Score

• Liam LeVangie tossed 2.1 innings, allowing four runs. He struck out two.
• Logan Frasier tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. He struck out two.
• Tyler Tornberg allowed two unearned runs over 2.0 innings of relief.
• Mark Scamardella tossed 2.0 innings of one-run relief. He didn't allow a hit but hit the first two batters of the ninth.
• Schaub finished 2-for-3 with a double and two walks.
• Gustin homered, walked twice, drove in two runs and scored twice.
• Smith picked up three hits and drove in two.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 8-2 against Merrimack at the DI level.
• Gustin extended his on-base streak to 28 games dating back to last season.
• Gustin now has 197 hits in his career.
• Schaub is now 7-for-11 over his last four games.

Up Next
Bryant begins an America East series at preseason favorite Binghamton on Friday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.