Noriega homers twice but Bulldogs drop high-scoring opener, 12-11

ORLANDO – Gavin Noriega homered twice and Justin Hackett and Gavin Greger each recorded three hits but the Bryant University baseball team dropped the highest scoring Opening Day in DI program history, 12-11, to UCF on Friday night.

Opening the season in Florida for the first time in DI program history, the Bulldogs collected 15 hits but could not overcome an eight-run sixth inning by UCF. The two teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Bryant held 3-1 and 6-3 leads in Friday's opener but the Knights scored eight times in the bottom of the sixth to take an 11-6 lead. The Bulldogs would rally, scoring four times in the seventh and tying the game in the eighth on Noriega's second home run. UCF grabbed the lead for good with a sac fly in the bottom of the eighth.

Noriega finished 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI, while Hackett went 3-for-5 with two doubles and Greger finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Chris Einemann also finished with multiple hits in his Bryant debut.  

Game Information
UCF 12, Bryant 11
Records: Bryant 0-1 | UCF 1-0
Location: John Euliano Park (Orlando, Fla.)
W|L|S: Alex Galvan (1-0) | Jared Burrows (0-1) | Chase Centala (1)

Key Moments

• UCF scored eight runs on eight hits in the sixth inning to take the lead and then broke an 11-11 tie with a sac fly in the bottom of the eighth.

How it Happened

• UCF opened the scoring with a run in the first. Matt Prevesk led off the game with a single, advanced to second on a ground, to third on a passed ball and came around to score on a ground out.
• After being held in check for the first two innings, Bryant collected four-straight hits to open the third inning, eventually plating three runs to take the lead. Greger opened the inning with a soft bloop to center that he turned into a hustle double. Einemann followed with a single through the left side and Matt Smith laid down a perfect safety squeeze to bring in the first run.
• Noriega followed with a single through the right side to score Einemann from second. Carmine Petosa made it a 3-1 game with an RBI ground out to first.
• The Knights were able to tie the game with single runs in the third and the fourth. In the third, a one-out single to right ended with a UCF runner on third as the throw into the infield went into the Bryant dugout. A wild pitch then scored the run.
• In the fourth, a one-out walk led to the tying run. After a ground out put the runner on second with two outs, Mikey Kluska tied the game with a single to left.
• Bryant retook the lead with four-straight two-out hits in the top of the sixth. Hackett started the rally with a double off the top of the wall in left center and Shea Grady followed with his first-career hit, a sinking drive down the right field line that ended in an RBI triple.
• Greger followed by slapping one past the third baseman to make it 5-3 and Einemann made it 6-3 as he chopped a single through the left side to score Greger.
• UCF answered with eight runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Knights tied the game with six singles and Andrew Sundean gave UCF the lead with a three-run double. Jack Zyska followed with a two-run home run to dead center to make it 11-6.
• Bryant plated four runs in the top of the seventh to pull within a run. Noriega started the inning with a home run to right center and Hackett made it 11-8 with an RBI double to dead center. Greger pulled Bryant within a run on a two-run single through the right side.
• Jared Burrows then kept the game close as he got a pop up and a ground out to strand the bases loaded in the seventh.
• After Einemann and Smith both flew out to the warning track to start the eighth, Noriega demolished a 1-1 pitch to dead center, tying the game at 11-11.
• UCF would open the bottom half of the inning with a double down the third base line. A sac bunt and a sac fly would bring the eventual winning run around to score.

Inside the Box Score

• Both teams finished with 15 hits.
• Bryant committed three errors in the contest.
• Austin Wainer allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits over 3.2 innings. He walked two and struck out two.
• Liam LeVangie tossed 2.0 innings of relief, allowing five runs on five hits. He struck out four.
• Mark Scamardella recorded the final out of the sixth.
• Burrows allowed one run on three hits in an inning of relief.
• Ryan Bradley recorded the final three outs.
• Noriega went 3-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored.
• Hackett had three hits, including two doubles, and scored twice.
• Greger had three hits, three RBI and two runs scored.
• Einemann picked up two hits.
• Grady tripled, drove in a run and scored a run.

Game Notes

• Bryant and UCF were meeting for the first time in program history.
• Friday's game was the highest scoring Opening Day game in Bryant DI program history.
• Bryant head coach Ryan Klosterman spent eight seasons as an assistant at UCF. Friday marked his return to Orlando.
• Wainer's start was the second-longest of his career.
• Greger and Shea Grady both made their collegiate debuts on Friday.
• Greger picked up his first college hit with a hustle double.
• Hackett's three-hit game was the first of his career.
• Noriega's multi-homer game was the first of his career.    

Up Next
Bryant and UCF are scheduled to wrap up their series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for game one is set for 11:00 a.m. with game two to follow 45 minutes after the completion.