Zac Zyons slapped an RBI single to rightfield with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning on Saturday afternoon, as Bryant knocked off Maine 9-8 in walk-off fashion in America East baseball action on Senior Day for the Bulldogs at Conaty Park in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The win secured a series victory for first place Bryant.
The game went back and forth between the top two teams currently in the conference. Maine scored twice in the top of the first inning on an error and an RBI double by Aidan Bardi, before Bryant came right back in the bottom half to grab the advantage 3-2 highlighted by a two-run single by Gavin Greger. The Black Bears didn’t hold another lead until the top of the seventh inning. Trailing 6-5, Chris Bear led off with a walk and then with two outs Evan Menzel homered to centerfield to put the guests back on top 7-6. The resilient Bulldogs evened it up on a sacrifice RBI flyout by Drew Wyers in the bottom half. The score stayed the same until Maine pushed ahead 8-7 in the top half of the 11th inning on an RBI double by Brody Rasmussen, and would rely on closer Sebastian Holt to try to end it. For the second straight day though, Brandyn Durand homered off Holt as this time it was a solo shot to leftfield as the leadoff hitter to make it 8-8. Matt D’Amato followed with a looping double down the leftfield line and would advance to third on a wild pitch with no outs. Holt struckout the next two batters swinging, before Zyons singled through the hole between first and second to give Bryant the walk-off win and their seventh straight victory.
Menzel, Rasmussen, and Will Burns had two hits each to lead Maine. Menzel knocked in three runs, while Rasmussen had two RBI. Rasmussen and Dean O’Neill also homered. Freshman Caleb Vacchiano (Sacopee Valley) got his first career start versus a conference opponent as he was in the lineup as the DH and had one hit. Caleb Leys started on the mound and saved the bullpen as he got a no-decision allowing seven runs (five earned) on nine hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts in 9.0 innings. Holt (2-2) was charged with his second loss in as many days in relief. D’Amato had three hits to lead Bryant, while Wyers, Greger, and Durand had two a piece. Liam Chamberlain (2-0) earned the pitching win out of the pen. The Bulldogs improve to 25-16-1 and 12-5 in America East. They’ve won 14 of their last 15 games overall, suffering just one loss since April 6th. The Black Bears record stands at 19-24 and 12-8 in the conference. The finale of the weekend series is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday afternoon.
