SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant baseball team used an eight-run fourth inning to earn a 12-1 run-rule victory over UMass Lowell on Friday afternoon at Conaty Park.
The Bulldogs improve to 17-15-1 overall and 6-4 in America East with their sixth-straight win. Bryant and UMass Lowell will play a doubleheader (two nine-inning games) on Saturday to wrap up the series. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.
On Friday, eight of nine starters collected a hit and the Bulldogs hit three home runs as a team. Bryant opened the game with a pair of home runs in a three-run first and put the game away with an eight-run fourth.
Drew Wyers (2-3, HR, 3RBI, 2R),
Brandyn Durand and
Pat D'Amico (3RBI) all homered, while
Zac Zyons broke the Bryant DI program record for hit by pitches. Eight of the nine starters finished with a hit and all nine starters scored at least one run.
Michael Belcher was the benefactor as he earned his second win of the year with a complete-game effort. He allowed one run on three hits, walked two and struck out two over 7.0 innings.
Game Information
Bryant 12, UMass Lowell 1
Records: Bryant 17-15-1, 6-4| UMass Lowell, 13-23, 5-8
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Belcher (2-0) | Mucciarone (1-3)
Key Moments
- Bryant broke open a 4-0 game with an eight-run fourth inning.
How it Happened
- Bryant struck early, scoring three times in the first. Zyons opened the game with a double on the first pitch and Wyers hit a two-run home run two batters later to open the scoring. Durand made it 3-0 with a towering solo home run down the left field line.
- The Bulldogs made it 4-0 in the second as Zyons brought home a run with a sac fly to left.
- In the fourth, the Bulldogs sent 13 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on eight hits. Three-straight singles opened the inning before a throwing error at home allowed the first run of the inning to score. Zyons was then hit with a 2-2 pitch, the 47th HBP in his career, to make it 6-0. Noriega brought home two with a single to right and Wyers blooped an RBI single to left to make it 9-0. D'Amico closed the scoring with an opposite field three-run home run.
- UMass Lowell plated its only run in the top of the seventh with a solo home run.
Inside the Box Score
- Zyons went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. He was also hit by a pitch.
- Noriega finished with two RBI.
- Wyers went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.
- D'Amico homered and drove in three.
- Durand hit a solo home run in the first.
- Matt D'Amato reached safely four times with three hits and a walk.
- Saul went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Game Notes
- Bryant evens the DI series with UMass Lowell at 9-9. The Bulldogs and River Hawks have split four meetings this year.
- The Bulldogs improve to 9-4-1 at home this year.
- Wyers' home run was his fourth of the season.
- Wyers is now 17-for-33 with three home runs and 15 RBI in America East play.
- Durand now leads the team with seven home runs. He has 18 in his career.
- Zyons has now been hit by a pitch 47 times in his career, breaking a tie with James Ciliento for first in DI program history.
- Noriega has multiple RBI in each of his last four games, driving in 10 during the stretch. He leads the America East with 36.
- D'Amico's home run was his fifth of the year and fourth in America East play. He 16 RBI in AE play.
- With three hits, D'Amato now has 250 hits in his collegiate career.
- Belcher posted the first complete game of his career and the first complete game by a Bryant pitcher this season.
Up Next
Bryant and UMass Lowell wrap up the series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. It will be two nine-inning games.
