Smith's walk-off lifts Bryant over Quinnipiac, 15-14

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Derek Smith delivered a walk-off two-run double in the bottom of the 10^th inning to lift the Bryant University baseball team to a 15-14 victory over Quinnipiac on Tuesday afternoon at Conaty Park.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 20-16 on the season. Bryant has now won seven straight games, finishing its eight-game homestand with a 7-1 record.

Smith stepped to the plate with runners on the corners and his team down 14-13 in the tenth. He slammed the first pitch off the very top of the wall in left to score both and set off a celebration in shallow left field. Smith finished 3-for-7 with four RBI.

Batting 7-8-9, James Myler, Justin Hackett and Zac Zyons combined for seven RBI and four runs scored.

Game Information
Bryant 15, Quinnipiac 14
Records: Bryant 20-16 | Quinnipiac 15-22
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Kaden Hilburger | Craska

Key Moments

• Carmine Petosa tied the game at 13-13 with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
• The Bobcats took a 14-13 lead in the top of the tenth on a home run and then loaded the bases with two outs. Smith, however, made a diving catch in deep right center to keep it a one-run game.
• Smith then walked it off in the bottom of the tenth.   

How it Happened

• Bryant scored first on Tuesday as Derek Smith doubled to dead center, scoring Jake Gustin from first.
• Quinnipiac was able to take the lead in the top of the third. The Bobcats opened the inning with three-straight hits to tie the game. They took the lead on an infield ground ball. Quinnipiac threatened for more, loading the bases with no outs. Logan Frasier struck out back-to-back hitters before getting a line drive to third to end the inning.
• Bryant quickly responded, scoring five times in the bottom of the third. A single and a walk put the first two on and Matt Smith loaded the bases with a perfect bunt. Jackson Phinney tied the game with a run with a soft ground ball to the left side that was misplayed. Myler followed with a two-run double inside the first base bag to make it 4-2. Justin Hackett brought in a run with a ground out and Zac Zyons capped the inning with a sac fly to left.
• Derek Smith pushed Bryant's lead to 7-3 with a long solo home run in the bottom of the fourth.
• Quinnipiac took advantage of several Bryant miscues to score six times in the top of the fifth. A two-run home run started the scoring and the third run scored on a throwing error. A safety squeeze plated the fourth run before the Bobcats tacked on two more.
• The Bobcats made it 11-7 with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth.
• In the bottom of the sixth, the Bulldogs put two on with two outs and Myler singled to center to score a run. Hackett then blooped a single to right field to make it 11-9. Bryant would leave the bases loaded.
• The Bobcats would extend the lead to 12-9 with an RBI triple in the top of the eighth.
• In the bottom of the eighth, Bryant would score three runs without the benefit of a hit to tie the game. Three-straight walks loaded the bases and a wild pitch scored the first run. Zyons then grounded out to bring in a second run. Derek Smith then hit a routine ground ball to second that was misplayed and allowed the tying run to score.
• The Bobcats would take a 13-12 lead in the top of the ninth on an RBI double. Ryan Bradley came on with runners on second and third and got out of the jam to keep it a one-run game.
• Petosa then launched a 1-2 pitch well over the right field wall for a game-tying home run in the ninth.
• In the tenth, Quinnipiac took the lead on a leadoff home run. The Bobcats would then load the bases but Smith's diving grab saved a big inning.
• Zyons led off the bottom of the tenth with a slicing double into the left field corner. Gustin followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Smith then hammered the first pitch off the very top of the left field wall, scoring Zyons and Gustin to win the game.

Inside the Box Score

• Frasier allowed three runs on seven hits over 4.0 innings. He walked one and struck out
• Tyler Tornberg allowed six runs (four earned) on just two hits in 0.2 innings of relief.
• M.T. Morrissey allowed two runs on two hits over 1.1 innings of relief.
• Toby Scheidt tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit and struck out two.
• Liam LeVangie worked 0.2 innings, allowing one run.
• Bradley allowed one run over 1.1 innings of relief.
• Hilburger got the final out of the tenth and earned his first collegiate victory.
• Derek Smith finished 3-for-7 with two doubles, a home run and four RBI.
• Petosa homered, walked four times and scored three runs.
• Myler posted two hits and drove in three.
• Hackett drove in a pair of runs.
• Zyons was HBP three times, doubled, drove in two and scored a run.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 21-2 all-time against Quinnipiac.
• The Bulldogs are now 4-3 in midweek games.
• Bryant improves to 10-1 at home this year. The Bulldogs finished 7-1 on their eight-game homestand.
• Gustin extended his on-base to 15 games and his hitting streak to 12 games.
• Smith's home run was his seventh of the season and second in as many games.
• Smith now has 14 doubles on the year, a new career high.
• Smith now leads the team with 15 multi-hit games this year and has reached safely in 17 straight.
• Smith's game-winning RBI give him 100 for his Bryant career.
• Myler drove in multiple runs for the third time this year.
• Petosa's home run was his third of the year.
• Petosa tied the DI single-game program record with four walks.
• Hilburger picked up his first collegiate victory.

Up Next
Bryant heads to New Jersey this weekend for an America East series with NJIT. The two teams are scheduled to play Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Kean University in Union, N.J.