SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Charlie Saul's walk-off three-run triple capped an incredible seven-run ninth inning comeback as the Bryant baseball team rallied from 9-3 down to earn a 10-9 win over NJIT in the first game of their America East series on Friday afternoon at Conaty Park.
 
The Bulldogs improve to 28-16-1 overall and 14-5 in America East play with their 10^th-straight win and 17^th victory in the last 18 games. Bryant has now won 12 of its last 13 league games and needs one more victory this weekend to secure a share of its second-straight America East Regular Season title.
 
Bryant led 1-0 through five innings before NJIT took the lead with a three-run sixth. The Black and Gold scored single runs in the seventh and eighth to tie the game before NJIT sent 10 men to the plate and scored six times in the top of the ninth to take a 9-3 lead.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Bryant sent nine men to the plate and scored seven runs with just two hits. The inning started with two walks and three-straight hit batters to plate the first two runs. A ground out and an infield single made it 9-7 before another walk reloaded the bases. Saul then fell behind 0-2 before lacing a 2-2 pitch past the dive of the right fielder for a game-winning three-run triple.

Game Information
Bryant 10, NJIT 9
Records: Bryant 28-16-1, 14-5 | NJIT 23-23, 10-9
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Chamberlain (3-0) | Mihalinac (2-3)
 
Key Moments

• Down 0-2 in the count, Saul drew the count even before fouling off a 2-2 pitch. He then laced the next pitch to right field that alluded the diving right fielder for a three-run walk-off triple.

How it Happened

• Bryant grabbed the lead with a run in the first. Zyons walked, Noriega singled him to third and Wyers brought him home with a sac fly to right.
• It remained 1-0 until the sixth when the Highlanders struck for three runs. The inning started with a leadoff double and a sac bunt to put a runner on third with one out. NJIT tried to safety squeeze him home but Zyons charged from second and flipped home to get the runner for the second out. Ray Ortiz, however, singled on a two-strike pitch to keep the inning alive and Mason Wolf tied the game with a single to right. Austin Francis made it 3-1 with a two-out, two-run double to left center.
• Papetti pulled Bryant within a run as he hit a one-out solo home run to chase DeSchryver in the seventh. Zyons was then HBP but reliever Jack Sylvia was able to retire Noriega and Wyers to get out of the inning.
• Bryant was able to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. D'Amico opened the inning with a single past a diving third baseman and advanced to second on a sac bunt. After a pop out, D'Amato dropped a 2-2 pitch into left center for a game-tying two-out single.
• NJIT responded by scoring six times on five hits in the top of the ninth. Sallie led off with a double just past a diving Noriega and Doyle walked. After another walk loaded the bases, Landon White entered but back-to-back singles to left made it 5-3. A sac fly from Ortiz, a bases-loaded walk to Francis and a pair of wild pitches made it 9-3.
• In the bottom of the ninth, Werse came on to pitch for the Highlanders but walked the first two and then hit batter to load the bases. NJIT went to the bullpen again but the new pitcher hit the first two batters he faced to force in two runs. Gavin Greger's RBI ground out to first and Brandyn Durand's RBI single to deep short made it 9-7. Matt D'Amato then walked to reload the bases and Saul cleared them with a game-winning three-run triple.

Inside the Box Score

• Bryant scored 10 runs on just seven hits.
• Michael Belcher started and allowed three runs on five hits and didn't walk a batter in 7.0 innings. He struck out five.
• Toby Scheidt allowed three runs on four hits in 1.0+ inning of work. He walked two and struck out three.
• Landon White recorded one out and allowed three runs in the ninth.
• Liam Chamberlain earned the victory, recording the final two outs of the ninth.
• Zyons walked three times and scored two runs.
• Wyers drove in two runs.
• Durand picked up two hits and drove in a run.
• Saul's lone hit of the game was the walk-off three-run triple.
• Papetti homered and scored two runs.
• Nate DeSchryver allowed two runs on just three hits, walked three and struck out five over 6.1 innings for NJIT. He has now allowed just 10 runs on just 13 hits in 31.2 innings against America East foes.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 6-4 in 10 all-time meetings with NJIT. The Bulldogs have won all four games at Conaty Park.
• The Bulldogs have now won 10-straight games for the first time since May 14-May 28, 2016.
• Bryant has now won in the eighth inning or later in three of its last four America East games. The Bulldogs took the lead in the bottom of the eighth in game one vs Maine and won it in the 11^th in game two vs the Black Bears. On the year, Bryant has won eight league games by scoring in the eighth inning or later to take the lead.
• Bryant has now won 17 of its last 18 games overall and 12 of its last 13 America East games.
• Bryant improves to 14-5-1 at home this year.
• Wyers extended his on-base streak to 27 games.
• Noriega extended his on-base streak to 23 games.
• D'Amato has reached safely in 21-straight games.
• Zyons extended his on-base streak to 21 games with three walks and his 52^nd career HBP.
• Papetti's home run was his third of the year.
• Saul's triple was his second of the year and he now has 13 RBI in 14 league games.
• Belcher matched his season-best with his 7.0-inning outing.

Up Next
Bryant and NJIT continue their weekend series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is currently scheduled for 1:00 p.m.