BALTIMORE – Charlie Saul's first-career grand slam highlighted a six-run sixth inning as the Bryant baseball team defeated UMBC, 7-1, in the first game of Saturday's America East doubleheader at Alumni Field.
 
The Bulldogs improve to 32-17-1 overall and 17-6 in America East play  with their 21^st win in the last 24 games. Bryant is now 15-2 in its last 17 league games and has won it's last six league series.
 
Saturday's first game was tied 1-1 entering the sixth before the Bulldogs erupted for six runs to break the tie. A single and a safety squeeze plated the first two runs of the inning before Saul launched a grand slam to left field to make it 7-1.
 
Clay Robbins, Kyle Rizy and Landon White combined to limit UMBC to one run on seven hits in the seven-inning contest. Rizy earned his seventh win, tying him for the league lead.

Game Information
Bryant 7, UMBC 1
Records: Bryant 32-17-1, 17-6 | UMBC 18-26, 8-15
Location: Alumni Field (Baltimore, Md.)
W|L|S: Kyle Rizy (7-0) | Sargent
 
Key Moments

• Saul put the game out of reach with a grand slam in the top of the sixth.

How it Happened

• UMBC plated the first run of the game on a fielder's choice ground out in the top of the third. Robbins did a great job limiting the Retrievers to one run after they loaded the bases with one out.
• Eddie Sargent held the Bryant offense at bay until Brandyn Durand led off the fifth with a long home run to left center, tying the game at 1-1.
• In the sixth, Gavin Noriega was hit by a pitch and Drew Wyers followed with a single to left. Pat D'Amico broke the tie with an RBI single to left center and Gavin Greger followed with a safety squeeze to make it 3-1. Durand was then intentionally walked and Matt D'Amato drew a full-count walk to load the bases. Saul then hit the first pitch from UMBC reliever Sam Bell over the left field wall for a grand slam and a 7-1 Bryant lead.

Inside the Box Score

• UMBC outhit Bryant, 7-6.
• Robbins allowed just one run on three hits over 3.0 innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out four.
• Rizy tossed 3.0 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. He allowed three hits, walked one and struck out three.
• Landon White recorded a scoreless seventh to close it out.
• Wyers finished with a pair of singles and scored a run.
• Durand homered and scored twice.
• Saul's grand slam was his only hit of the game.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 10-3 in 13 all-time meetings with UMBC.
• Bryant is now 21-3 since the start of April and 15-2 in its last 17 America East games.
• The Bulldogs have now won 11-straight road games, the longest active streak in the country.
• Bryant picked up its sixth-straight America East series win.
• Wyers extended his on-base streak to 32 games with a pair of singles.
• Wyers is hitting .438 with seven home runs, 29 RBI and a 1.305 OPS in league play.
• D'Amato has reached safely in 26-straight games and leads the team with 26 walks.
• Zyons extended his on-base streak to 26 games with a seventh-inning single.
• A day after tripling twice, Saul hit his first-career grand slam. It is the first Bryant grand slam since Matt Smith hit one vs URI on April 16, 2024.
• Saul now has four doubles, four triples, three home runs and a 1.058 OPS in league play. He has 20 RBI in AE games.
• Rizy's seventh win ties him with UMBC's Nick Remy for the league lead. He is now 5-0 with a 2.92 ERA in eight relief appearances in conference play.
• Robbins has now allowed three earned runs or less in each of his last four league starts.
• Durand's home run was his 10^th of the year and the 21^st of his career. He is eighth in DI program history. Durand is also the first player in DI program history to record 10+ home runs in back-to-back seasons.

Up Next
Bryant and UMBC wrap up their series with game two of the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.