Bryant to face UMass Lowell in America East Baseball Championships

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team will face UMass Lowell in a single-elimination playoff game on the first day of the 2023 America East Baseball Championships Wednesday afternoon in Vestal, N.Y. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.

Bryant is the No. 4 seed, while UMass Lowell is the No. 5 seed. No. 3 seed and host Binghamton will face No. 6 seed NJIT in the second of Wednesday's two single-elimination games. Wednesday's winners will advance to the double-elimination portion of the tournament that begins Thursday. Top seed Maine and second-seeded UMBC await the winners.  

The 2023 America East Baseball Championships are being held in Vestal, N.Y., at the Bearcats Baseball Complex. 

Tournament Schedule (Tournament Central)
Wednesday, May 24 (single elimination)
Game 1 - No. 4 Bryant vs. No. 5 UMass Lowell - 1:00 p.m.
Game 2 - No. 3 Binghamton vs. No. 6 NJIT - 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 25 (double elimination)
Game 3 - No. 1 Maine vs. Lowest Remaining seed - 11:00 a.m.
Game 4 - No. 2 UMBC vs. Highest Remaining seed - 3:00 p.m.
Game 5 - Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 (elimination game) - 7:00 p.m.

Friday, May 26
Game 6 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 - 1:00 p.m.
Game 7 - Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6 (elimination game) - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 27
Game 8 - Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7 (championship game) - 1:00 p.m.
Game 9 - if neccessary (45 min following game 8)

The Particulars
Opponent: UMass Lowell
Location: Bearcats Baseball Complex (Vestal, N.Y.)
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 24 - 1:00 p.m.
Live Stats: Sidearm
Video: Watch
Game Notes: Bryant
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #AEBASE  

Bryant vs. UMass Lowell

• UMass Lowell owns a 33-15 lead in the all-time series and a 5-4 lead as Division I opponents. 
• The River Hawks have won each of the last five meetings following a three-game sweep in Lowell earlier this year. 

Bryant in the postseason

• Bryant will be making its 10 postseason appearance at the Division I level. The Bulldogs played in all nine Northeast Conference Tournaments it was eligible for from 2013-2022. 
• The Black and Gold posted a 21-13 record in the NEC Tournament, winning tournament titles in 2013, 2014 and 2016. 
• Bryant has advanced to the championship game in each of the last three postseasons (2019, 2021, 2022), falling in the if necessary game all three years.

Bulldog Notes and Notables

• Bryant enters the tournament at 26-23 overall. The Bulldogs closed out the regular season at Maine, falling in all three games. 
• Bryant enters the tournament ranked fifth in batting average, fourth in ERA and third in fielding. 
• The Bulldogs rank second in home runs (70) and have struck out a league-best 421 batters. 
• Jake Gustin enters the tournament hitting .355 (6th in the AE), 16 doubles (4th in the AE), 46 RBI (4th) and 52 runs scored (4th). He led the league in hits with 71. 
• Derek Smith is enjoying a career year, posting career-highs in hits, doubles and home runs. Smith ranks seventh in the league with 44 RBI.
• Zac Zyons enters the tournament hitting .305 with a .452 OBP. He has five doubles, three triples, four home runs, 20 RBI and 35 runs scored.
• Carmine Petosa (37) and Lewis Barnum (35) each have 35+ RBI on the year. 
• Coleman Picard has posted a 2-1 record and a 2.75 ERA in nine starts (36.0 innings). He has allowed 29 hits, walked 12 and struck out 51.
• Brett Wichrowski has struck out 64 in 50.0 innings, while Ken Turner leads the staff in innings at 52.2.
• Liam LeVangie leads the team in appearances with 19. Austin Wainer is 3-4 with a 5.06 ERA in 42.2 innings. He has 48 strikeouts and just 19 walks.