Bulldogs fall to UML on Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant baseball team committed five errors that led to eight unearned runs in a 9-7 loss to UMass Lowell on Saturday afternoon at Conaty Park.

With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 24-12 overall and 12-2 in the America East. Bryant is now 23-5 in its last 28 games and is now 16-4 at home. The loss snaps a 10-game winning streak in AE play and a nine-game home winning streak. Bryant and UMass Lowell will play the rubber match on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

Bryant led 4-0 after three innings on Saturday but an error led to six unearned runs in the fourth. The Bulldogs then tied the game in the sixth but three errors led to two unearned runs in the seventh, allowing UML to break a 7-7 tie.

Brandyn Durand finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Zac Zyons finished with two hits, including a home run, while Jackson Phinney had two hits and drove in a run.

Game Information
UMass Lowell 9, Bryant 7
Records: Bryant 24-12, 12-2 | UMass Lowell 16-20, 7-6
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Capellupo (4-2) | Jack Pletter (1-1) | Foley (2)

Key Moments

• A Bryant throwing error opened the door for the River Hawks to plate two unearned runs in the seventh, breaking a 7-7 tie.

How it Happened

• Bryant opened the scoring with four runs in the bottom of the third. Zyons started things with a solo home run over the softball batting cages in right field. Petosa pushed the lead to 3-0 with a line drive double to center. Phinney closed the inning with an RBI double off the right field wall.
• A Bryant error led to six unearned runs for the River Hawks in the top of the fourth. With two on, a ground ball to third was thrown into right field, allowing the first run to score. A fly out to left brought in the second run and Alex Luccini made it 6-4 with a grand slam to right.
• The River Hawks pushed the lead to 7-4 with a run in the top of the sixth. It could have been more but Petosa made a diving stop at first to save two runs.
• Bryant answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to tie it. Noriega brought in the first run with a two-out infield single. Durand followed with a double into the left field corner, scoring Ryan Santangelo from third and Noriega all the way from first to tie the game.
• The Bulldogs' defense helped UML score two runs in the top of the seventh. With one on and no outs, Petosa fielded a ground ball at first and fired to second. The throw went by the shortstop and into left field. Noriega charged the ball but it went under his hand, allowing the runners to advance an extra base and a run to score. A second run scored on a single to left.

Inside the Box Score

• UMass Lowell outhit Bryant, 12-11.
• Luke Delongchamp had a no decision, allowing six unearned runs over 5.0 innings. He allowed five hits, walked four and struck out three.
• Bradley Lewis tossed an inning of relief, allowing one run.
• Jack Pletter allowed two unearned runs in 2.0 innings of work. He allowed four hits.
• Zach Nichols tossed a scoreless ninth.
• Durand went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI.
• Zyons had two hits, including a home run.
• Petosa doubled and drove in two runs. He reached safely three times.

Game Notes

• Bryant snapped a six-game losing streak to UMass Lowell with the win. The Bulldogs trail the DI series, 6-5.
• Friday marked Bryant's first win over UMass Lowell since 2016.
• The Bulldogs are now 23-4 after starting the season 1-7.
• Bryant is now 16-3 at home this season.
• Petosa extended his on-base streak to 36 games this season and 39 dating back to last season. It is the longest on-base streak since Chris Wright reached in 42-straight games during the 2019 season.
• Zyons extended his on-base streak to 16 games with his 11^th multi-hit game of the year.
• Durand posted his first-career three-hit game, picking up multiple doubles for the first time in his career.   

Up Next
Bryant and UMass Lowell close their series on Sunday afternoon at Conaty Park. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.