SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant baseball team used an eight-run third inning to defeat Merrimack, 12-2, in a run-rule shortened contest on Tuesday afternoon at Conaty Park.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 28-14 overall. Bryant is now 27-7 in its last 34 games and improved to 18-4 at Conaty Park this year. Bryant will visit NJIT in an America East series starting Friday.

Gavin Greger (2-3, 2RBI, 2R) and Matt Smith (2-3, 2R) each had two hits, while Shea Grady (1-2, HR, 3RBI) and Daniel Baruch (1-3, HR, 2RBI, 2R) each homered for the Bulldogs. Carmine Petosa was hit by a pitch and walked twice, extending his on-base streak to 45 games.

Five Bryant pitchers limited Merrimack to two runs on six hits. Sean Zaslaw made his first collegiate start, allowing one run over 2.0 innings. Mark Scamardella earned the win by retiring six of the seven batters he faced.

Game Information
Bryant 12, Merrimack 2
Records: Bryant 28-14 | Merrimack 21-23
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Mark Scamardella (1-0) | Zach Broderick (0-1)

Key Moments

• Bryant scored eight times in the third inning to open up a 10-1 lead.

How it Happened

• Merrimack got on the board with three singles in the second inning. The third came with two outs and scored the first run of the game.
• Bryant took the lead in the bottom of the inning. A balk plated the first run and a wild pitch scored the second.
• The Black and Gold then exploded for eight runs on five hits in the third. Petosa walked to start the inning and Grady followed with a line drive over the left field wall for a two-run home run. Bryant then loaded the bases and Zac Zyons was HBP with the bases loaded. Gavin Noriega picked up an RBI single and Jacob Gaudreau brought in a run with a fielder's choice. A bases-loaded walk to Grady and a two-run single by Greger capped the inning.
• Baruch added an exclamation point on the afternoon with a long home run to dead center in the fifth.

Inside the Box Score

• Bryant outhit Merrimack, 8-6.
• Zaslaw allowed one run on four hits over 2.0 innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out two.
• Scamardella retired six of the seven batters he faced over 2.0 scoreless.
• M.T. Morrissey and Jared Burrows each tossed a scoreless inning, while Ryan Bradley allowed one run and struck out two in the seventh.
• Greger posted two hits, drove in two, scored twice and stole a base.
• Smith picked up two hits and scored twice.
• Grady homered and drove in three runs.
• Baruch finished 1-for-3 with a two-run home run.
• Noriega went 1-for-1 with two walks and an RBI single.
• Petosa reached safely three times with an HBP and two walks.

Game Notes

• Bryant won all three midweek games against Merrimack this season and now owns a 12-2 lead in the DI series.
• The Bulldogs are now 27-7 in their last 34 after starting the season 1-7.
• Bryant is now 18-4 at Conaty Park this season.
• Petosa extended his on-base streak to 42 games this season and 45 dating back to last season with an HBP in the first inning. It is the second longest on-base streak in program history. Robby Rinn reached in 50 straight during the 2016 season.
• Petosa has now walked 37 times this season, the fifth-most in a single season in DI program history. He ranks 8^th in DI program history with 77 career free passes.
• Zyons extended his on-base streak to 22 games.
• Greger posted his second-straight multi-hit game. He has hits in seven of his last eight.
• Grady's home run was his second of the season and first since Feb. 24 at George Washington.
• Baruch's home run was his sixth of the year. 13 of Baruch's 21 hits are for extra bases (.533 slugging).
• Zaslaw made his first collegiate start and notched his longest outing since March 8.
• Scamardella has recorded a scoreless outing in eight of his last nine appearances.
• Morrissey has notched five-straight scoreless outings.
• Bradley has struck out six and walked just one over his last three appearances (3.1 innings).

Up Next
Bryant opens a key America East series with NJIT on Friday night at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, N.J. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.