VESTAL, N.Y. – Four Bryant relievers combined to limit second-seeded UMBC to one run on three hits as the top-seeded Bulldogs defeated UMBC 4-1 in Game 6 of the 2024 America East Baseball Championships.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 35-19 overall and advance to the championship round of the tournament. Bryant will face the winner of Game 7 between No. 2 seed UMBC and No. 3 seed NJIT on Saturday, May 25 at 1:00 p.m. Bryant will have two chances to win its first America East Championship.

Bryant starter Luke Delongchamp left the game with an upper body injury with two outs in the second and the Bulldogs' bullpen answered the call. Jack Pletter (1.0, 2H, 1R), Mark Scamardella (2.1, 0H, 0R, 3K), Zach Nichols (2.0, 0H, 2K) and Landon White (2.0, 1H, 0R, 1K) combined to hold UMBC to just one run.

Bryant's offense worked its tail off to scrap across four runs against the league's best pitching staff. Jackson Phinney paced the attack with three hits, including an RBI double and a home run. Gavin Noriega reached three times and scored twice and Matt Smith picked up two hits.

Game Information
No. 1 Bryant 4, No. 2 UMBC 1
Records: Bryant 35-19 | UMBC 26-24
Location: Bearcats Baseball Complex (Binghamton, N.Y.)
W|L|S: Mark Scamardella (2-1) | Shertel (3-6) | Landon White (1)

Key Moments

• Scamardella entered with the bases loaded in the third inning. The righty got a fly out to leave the bases loaded and keep the Bulldogs down just one run.
• The Bulldogs scored single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to break a 1-1 tie.

How it Happened

• Bryant's defense made a great play in the second to keep UMBC off the board. Justin Hackett snared a liner and then fired across the diamond to double off the runner.
• Bryant starter Luke Delongchamp was hurt on the next pitch, however, and the Bulldogs were forced to go to the bullpen.
• The Retrievers scored first as Derek Paris singled on a bunt, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single.
• Bryant quickly answered, tying the game in the bottom of the third. Noriega singled to open the inning and came around to score as Phinney doubled to left center with two outs.
• The Black and Gold took their first lead of the game in the fifth. Noriega walked and moved to second on a sac bunt. Petosa then ripped a 2-2 breaking ball into the right field corner an RBI ground-rule double.
• Bryant made it 3-1 in the sixth as Noriega drew a bases-loaded walk.
• The Bulldogs made it three-straight innings with a run as Phinney lifted a solo home run to left center in the seventh.
• Nichols and White closed it out on the mound, limiting the Retrievers to just two baserunners over the final four innings. Nichols retired all six he faced while White got a double play in the eighth to get through UMBC.

Inside the Box Score

• Bryant outhit UMBC, 9-3.
• Delongchamp didn't allow a run or a hit in 1.2 innings. He walked one and struck out two.
• Pletter allowed one run on two hits, walked three and struck out one in an inning of work.
• Scamardella earned the win with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. He walked one and struck out three.
• Nichols retired all six batters he faced in the sixth and seventh.
• White allowed just one hit as he tossed a scoreless eighth and ninth.
• Zyons and Noriega each had a hit and walked twice. Noriega drove in a run and scored twice.
• Petosa picked up an RBI double.
• Smith had two singles.
• Phinney went 3-for-4 with an RBI double and a solo home run.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 7-3 all-time vs UMBC. The Bulldogs are 5-2 in seven games this season.
• Bryant has advanced to the championship round of a conference tournament for the eighth time in DI program history and for the first time since 2022.
• The Bulldogs are look for their first tournament title since 2016.
• The Bulldogs are now 34-12 in their last 46 after starting the season 1-7.
• Scamardella earned his second win of the season with a season-high 2.1 innings of relief.
• Carmine Petosa has now reached safely in all 54 games this season and 57 straight dating back to last season. It extends his program record.
• Petosa now has three doubles in the tournament and 20 doubles on the year, the sixth-most in DI program history.
• Zyons extended his on-base streak to 34 games.
• Noriega picked up his 57^th RBI of the season, the most in America East and tied for fourth in DI program history. Noriega's 55 runs scored are tied for 6^th in DI program history.
• Phinney's home run was his sixth of the year and the 20^th of his career. He is just the eighth player in DI program history to hit 20+ career home runs.
• Nichols has now worked 5.2 scoreless innings of postseason relief dating back to last season at D3 Wheaton.
• White's outing was his longest of the season and earned him his first-career save.

Up Next
The top-seeded Bulldogs will face the winner of Friday's game between UMBC and NJIT at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Bryant needs just one win to capture the America East Championship.