Big innings lift Bryant to Friday win over UAlbany

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team used four big innings to erase an early 4-0 deficit and earn a 17-11 win over UAlbany on Friday afternoon at Conaty Park.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 17-16 overall and 7-6 in America East play. Bryant has won each of its last four games.

On Friday, Bryant trailed 4-0 after the first inning but scored three times in the third, three times in the sixth, five times in the seventh and five times in the eighth.

Jake Gustin (5-6, 2RBI, 4R), Zac Zyons (2-3, HR, 4R), Lewis Barnum (2-4, 3RBI, 2R), Jackson Phinney (3-4, 2RBI), Derek Smith (3-5, 2RBI, 2R) and James Myler (2-4, HR, 3RBI, 2R) all finished with multiple hits for the Black and Gold.

Mark Scamardella and Austin Wainer combined for 7.1 innings of two-run relief.

Game Information
Bryant 17, UAlbany 11
Records: Bryant 17-16, 7-6 | UAlbany 4-24, 1-12
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Wainer (3-3) | Scherrer 

Key Moments

• With Bryant trailing 6-5, Petosa stepped to the plate and delivered a two-out, two-run single to give the Bulldogs a 7-6 lead in the sixth.

How it Happened

• UAlbany got off to a hot start, scoring four times in the top of the first inning. Two walks and a single loaded the bases before a single to right scored the first run. A wild pitch brought home the second run and Danny Alvarez's two-run double capped the inning.
• Bryant got back in the game with three runs in the third and a run in the fourth. In the third, Zyons got Bryant on the board with a with an opposite field home run that snuck just inside the left field pole. Gustin followed with an infield single and Derek Smith then hit ball to right that got lost in the sun for a double. Barnum scored both with a sharp single to right.
• In the fourth, Zyons singled, stole second and scored on a two-out single from Derek Smith.
• UAlbany retook the lead with a two-run home run in the top of the fifth.
• The Black and Gold answered with another three-run inning in the sixth to take a 7-6 lead. Justin Hackett walked and Zyons was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Gustin followed with an RBI single through the right side. After a walk loaded the bases, UAlbany picked up two strikeouts. Petsoa then stepped to the plate and laced a breaking ball past the diving first baseman to score two.
• Bryant extended its lead with a five runs in the seventh. Zyons reached with a walk and came around to score on a wild pitch. Barnum then plated a run with a two-out single up the middle. Phinney then singled through the left side to bring home two runs. A third run scored as the ball got away from the left fielder.
• The Black and Gold added five more runs in the eighth. Gustin tripled to left center to bring home a run and then scored on a single to center by Smith. James Myler capped the scoring with a three-run home run to left center to make it 17-6.
• UAlbany would score five runs in the top of the ninth.

Inside the Box Score

• Coleman Picard returned after missing five weeks and was relieved in the first inning. He allowed four runs on three hits.
• Mark Scamardella tossed a career-high 4.0 innings of relief. His only blemish was an opposite field two-run home run in the fifth. Scamardella allowed two hits, walked two and struck out four.
• Wainer tossed 3.1 innings of one-hit relief. He walked three and struck out two.
• Gustin finished 5-for-6 with two RBI and four runs scored.
• Zyons went 2-for-3 with a home run and four runs scored. He also stole a base.
• Derek Smith had three hits and two RBI.
• Phinney picked up three hits and drove in two.
• Barnum had two hits, three RBI and two runs scored.
• Myler had two hits, including a three-run home run.

Game Notes

• Bryant and UAlbany were meeting for the first time since 2014. The Bulldogs are 4-0 all-time against the Great Danes.
• Bryant improves to 7-1 at home this year.
• Bryant recorded season highs in runs scored and hits.
• Gustin extended his hitting streak to nine games and his on-base to 12 games.
• Gustin now has 121 career RBI, pushing him past Jamie Skagerlind and into seventh in DI program history.
• Gustin has 14 multi-hit games this season and 66 career multi-hit games.
• Gustin's five hits matched his career high and tied the Bryant DI single-game record. He last accomplished the feat on April 11, 2021.
• Scamardella's 4.0 innings of relief marked a career high.
• Zyons scored a career-high four runs.
• Petosa snapped an 0-for-21 stretch with his two-run single in the sixth. It was his first hit since April 8.

Up Next
Bryant and UAlbany will warp up their weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is set for 11:30 a.m.