Bryant University’s baseball team lost to No. 19 Clemson 9-3 in the series opener on Friday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The defeat leaves Bryant with a 2-2 record for the season, while Clemson remains undefeated at 5-0. The teams are set to play again on Saturday afternoon.
Bryant managed to tie the game in the seventh inning after trailing 3-1. Charlie Saul opened the inning with a double and later scored on a ground out by Casey Wensley. Hunter Kingsbury reached base on an error, stole third, and then stole home with two outs to level the score at 3-3.
Clemson responded in the bottom of the eighth inning by sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring six runs on five hits. Four Clemson pitchers combined to hold Bryant to just two hits while striking out 14 batters.
Saul was responsible for both of Bryant’s hits, reaching base three times and scoring twice. Kingsbury contributed with two stolen bases and a run scored.
Five pitchers appeared for Bryant, combining for ten strikeouts and seven walks. Owen Birchard took the loss after allowing five runs in the eighth inning.
Reflecting on individual performances, Kaden Hilburger started for Bryant and gave up three runs over 1.2 innings. Sean Zaslaw pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit, while Landon White threw three scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Friday’s game marked the first meeting between Bryant and Clemson in baseball. It was also notable for Bryant head coach Ryan Klosterman’s return to Clemson; he played there as a freshman in 2001 before transferring to Vanderbilt alongside assistant coach Tim Corbin. Klosterman was coached that year by Erik Bakich, now Clemson’s head coach.
Kingsbury has been successful on three of four stolen base attempts this season, while Saul now has four extra-base hits and a 1.326 OPS through four games.
Bryant will face Clemson again Saturday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
“Friday marked a return to Clemson for head coach Ryan Klosterman. Klosterman was a freshman at Clemson in 2001 before following Clemson assistant Tim Corbin to Vanderbilt. Klosterman was also coached by now Clemson head coach Erik Bakich during his year with the Tigers.”
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