Bryant rallies for wild 9-8 win over Binghamton

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Zac Zyons and Jake Gustin hit back-to-back home runs with two outs in the bottom of the 12^th to tie the game and Matt Smith was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the 13^th as the Bryant University baseball team earned a wild 9-8 victory over Binghamton in game one of their weekend series at Conaty Park.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 24-19 overall and 11-8 in the league. They move into sole possession of third place in the standings, one game ahead of Binghamton.

Bryant led 6-1 after six and 6-4 heading into the ninth but Binghamton rallied to tie the game and then took an 8-6 lead to the bottom of the 12^th. The Bearcats were one out away from winning the game before the sprinkler system turned on at Conaty Park. After a 15-minute delay, Zyons and Gustin hit back-to-back home runs to right field to tie the game. The sprinkler system then turned back on, forcing the game to be suspended until Saturday.

On Saturday, Mark Scamardella tossed a scoreless 13^th to set up the Bulldog rally. Bryant was able to load the bases with one out and Smith was hit by a pitch to bring home the winning run.

Game Information
Bryant 9, Binghamton 8 (13)
Records: Bryant 24-19, 11-8 | Binghamton 24-18, 10-9
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Mark Scamardella | Eskildsen

Key Moments

• Binghamton tied the game with a sac fly in the top of the ninth and then took the lead in the 12^th with a pair of sac flies.
• Zyons and Gustin hit back-to-back home runs with two outs in the 12^th to tie the game at 8-8.   
• Matt Smith was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the 13^th.    

How it Happened

• Bryant got off to a quick start in the series opener, scoring three times in each of the first two innings. In the first, Zyons was hit by a pitch and came around to score as Gustin laced a triple to left center that just fell out of the reach of a diving center fielder. Derek Smith followed with an RBI single up the middle and came around to score on a two-out infield single from Gavin Noriega.
• Zyons started Bryant's rally in the second as well, reaching on an HBP with one out. A walk and a single loaded the bases and Barnum cleared them, hammering a 3-2 pitch into right center for a two-out, three-run double to make it 6-1.    
• The Bearcats cut into the deficit in the seventh with a three-run home run.
• In the eighth, Binghamton put the first batters on with a double and an infield error. Austin Wainer buckled down, getting a strikeout before inducing an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
• Binghamton tied the game in the ninth with a pair of runs. Three-straight seeing-eye singles through the left side produced the first run. A sac fly with one out and the bases loaded tied the game.
• The Bearcats then took advantage of a Bryant throwing error in the top of the 12^th. With a man on first, a perfectly placed but to no-mans land at second resulted in a throwing error and runners on second and third. Consecutive sac flies then made it 8-6 in favor Binghamton.
• That's when things got wacky. In the bottom of the 12^th, Bryant put its leadoff man on but a double play quickly cleared the bases. The infield sprinkler system then turned on, causing a 15-minute delay. When play resumed, Zyons took a 2-1 pitch deep over the right field wall to make it a one-run game. Gustin then fell behind 0-2 but worked the count full before launching a letter-high fastball over the right field wall to tie the game.
• The outfield sprinkler system then turned on, causing the game to be suspended to Saturday.
• Scamardella then struck out two in a perfect 13^th to setup the Bryant rally. Singles from Barnum and John Hosmer started the rally before a walk loaded the bases. Smith was then HBP to win the game.

Inside the Box Score

• Coleman Picard allowed one unearned run on four hits, walked two and struck out four over 4.1 innings. His only blemish was a bases-loaded walk in the second.
• Liam LeVangie came on in relief in the fifth and tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
• Austin Wainer tossed a scoreless 8^th, while Tyler Tornberg recorded a scoreless 10^th and 11^th.
• Zyons finished 2-for-4 and reached safely five times with a walk and two HBPs. He scored three runs.
• Smith went 2-for-5 with two runs and a stolen base.
• Barnum had two hits, including a three-run double.
• Gustin went 2-for-6 with a triple, home run, two RBI and three runs scored.
• Scamardella earned the win, tossing a perfect 13^th.  

Game Notes

• Bryant and Binghamton have split four games this season.
• Bryant improves to 13-1 at Conaty Park this season. The Black and Gold have won each of their last 10 home games.
• Gustin extended his on-base streak to 22 games.
• Gustin now has 11 career triples, tying Tyler Panno for the second-most in DI program history.
• Gustin's home run was the 20^th of his career, making him the sixth player in DI program history to reach 20.
• Gustin has now scored 177 runs in his career, one behind James Ciliento for second in DI program history.
• Zyons has now hit safely in 12-straight games.
• Zyons has now been hit by a pitch 12 times in 106 plate appearances.
• Zyons' home run was his third of the season.
• Picard has allowed just one unearned run over his last three starts (11.1 innings).
• Barnum picked up his sixth multi-hit game and ninth multi-RBI game of the season.
• Tornberg matched his season high with 2.0 innings of relief. He has recorded scoreless outings in six of his last seven appearances. He had just one scoreless appearance in his first eight on the year.
• Wainer has allowed just two earned runs over his last six outings (13.1 innings).
• LeVangie has allowed just one run over his last six outings (8.0 innings).

Up Next
Bryant and Binghamton continue their series on Saturday afternoon with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.