Bryant downs ACC foe Pitt to open weekend series

PITTSBURGH – Carmine Petosa homered and drove in four runs as the Bryant baseball team earned an 11-8 victory over ACC member Pitt on Friday night at Charles L. Cost Field.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 27-12 overall. Bryant is now 26-5 in its last 31 games and has now defeated an ACC member in each of the last two seasons.

On Friday, Petosa drove in four runs with a two-run home run and a two-run double to pace an 11-hit attack. Brandyn Durand added two hits, including his sixth home run, Jackson Phinney doubled twice and Gavin Greger drove in two.

Austin Wainer and Jack Pletter held Pitt to two runs over the first 6.1 innings. Wainer allowed one run over 3.1 innings, while Pletter allowed one run over 3.0.

Game Information
Bryant 11, Pitt 8
Records: Bryant 27-12 | Pitt 16-22
Location: Charles L. Cost Field (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
W|L|S: Austin Wainer (4-1) | Andrade (0-4)

Key Moments

• Petosa clubbed a two-run shot off the batters eye to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead. He then added two-run double to tack on two key insurance runs.

How it Happened

• Bryant opened the scoring by manufacturing two runs in the second. Phinney doubled to left center to start the inning and moved to third on a sac bunt from Daniel Baruch. Gavin Greger then grounded out to second to score Phinney. Shea Grady restarted the inning with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored as Justin Hackett lifted a 3-2 pitch down the right field line for an RBI single.
• The Bulldogs pushed the lead to 4-0 in the third as Petosa launched the first pitch of his at-bat off the batters eye in dead center for a two-run shot. It was his eighth home run of the year and extended his on-base streak to 42 games.
• Pitt got on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the third.
• It remained 4-1 until the Bulldogs tacked on five runs in the top of the sixth. Baruch walked to leadoff and came all the way around from first as Greger doubled to right center. Bryant's second run scored on an errant pickoff throw.
• With two outs, Zyons attempted to steal home as the left-handed pitcher came set. The pitcher never fully set and fired home and Zyons was tagged out. It was ruled, however, that the catcher blocked home and Zyons was ruled safe. Durand followed with a moon shot into the Pittsburgh night to make it 9-1.
• Pitt looked to rally in the bottom of the seven as it loaded the bases with one out. A drive to left center hit high off the double wall but Greger played it perfectly. He fired into the infield and the Bulldogs were able to get an out during a run down. Zyons then slid in the hole at second for the third out, limiting the Panthers to one run.
• Bryant extended its lead in the top of the eighth as Petosa doubled home two with a drive to left center (11-2).
• Pitt made things interesting, scoring four in the eighth in two in the ninth. In the ninth, a two-run home run made it 11-8. The Panthers then put two on with two out but Zach Nichols was able to get a fly out to center to end the rally.

Inside the Box Score

• Bryant and Pitt each finished with 11 hits.
• Wainer allowed one run on three hits over 3.1 innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out two.
• Jack Pletter tossed 3.0 innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits. He walked three and struck out one.
• Jared Burrows allowed three runs on two hits in an inning of relief. He walked three and struck out one.
• Tyler Tornberg recorded the final two outs of the eighth. He allowed one run on one hit.
• Zach Nichols pitched the ninth, allowing two runs on two hits. He walked two and struck out two.
• Zyons finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored. He reached safely four times with a walk and two HBPs.
• Noriega walked twice and scored twice.
• Durand had two hits, including a two-run home run.
• Petosa picked up two hits and four RBI. He had a two-run double and a two-run home run.
• Phinney doubled twice in his first game back at Pitt.
• Greger picked up a double and drove in two.

Game Notes

• Bryant and Pitt were meeting for the first time in program history.
• The Bulldogs have now won a game against an ACC school in each of the last two seasons.
• The Bulldogs are now 26-5 in their last 31 after starting the season 1-7.
• Petosa extended his on-base streak to 39 games this season and 42 dating back to last season with his third-inning home run. It is the longest on-base streak since Chris Wright reached in 42-straight games during the 2019 season.
• Petosa now has eight doubles in his last nine games.
• Petosa's home run was his 8^th of the season and the 22^nd of his career. He is now tied with James Ciliento for fourth in DI program history and 7^th all-time at Bryant.
• Petosa's four RBI give him 100 in his Bryant career.
• Zyons extended his on-base streak to 19 games.
• Wainer earned his fourth win of the season. He is now 9-6 in his career.   

Up Next
Bryant and Pitt continue their series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.