SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Host Bryant (7-8, 1-1 America East) scored the last four runs of the game to overtake Binghamton baseball (6-9, 1-1 AE) 5-3 Saturday afternoon at Conaty Park.
The Bearcats led 3-1 before the Bulldogs took the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a 2-out, 2-strike 3-run home run. Bryant then added an insurance run in the fifth inning on another 2-out hit.
Down 4-3, Binghamton loaded the bases in the fifth but a strikeout ended the threat. The Bearcats then put the tying run on in the eighth before a deep fly to left was hauled in to end that uprising. Binghamton went down in order in three of the final four innings against the Bryant bullpen.
Binghamton scored twice in the first to jump ahead 2-0. Gonzalez opened the game with a double and with one out, sophomore center fielder
Matt Bolton plated him with an RBI double. Sophomore first baseman
Steven Kraus then brought in Bolton with an RBI single to right.
After Bryant got one run back in the bottom of the first, the Bearcats made it 3-1 with a run in the third. Sophomore right fielder
Braylen Gonzalez (3-for-3) legged out a 1-out single and Binghamton wound up scoring an unearned run after a wild pitch and catcher error.
Junior starter
Brady Bouchard worked 5.0 innings and struck out seven. Sophomore reliever
Aiden Milburn allowed just one hit in 3.0 scoreless frames.
The teams will play the rubber game at 1 p.m. Sunday. Junior
Hayden Tarsia will take the mound for the Bearcats.
