UMBC defeated the Bryant baseball team, 7-5, after scoring four runs in the top of the ninth inning at Conaty Park on May 9. The loss drops Bryant to a record of 25-22 overall and 12-11 in America East play. UMBC has now won the first two games of the series and will aim for a sweep in Sunday’s game.
The outcome was determined when UMBC rallied with four runs in their final at-bat. Danny Melton’s chopper up the first base line stayed fair, putting two runners on base before a hit batter loaded them. After a strikeout, Ehi Okojie tied the game with a single up the middle, followed by consecutive RBI singles that gave UMBC its lead.
Bryant had opportunities throughout but could not hold onto their late advantage. In earlier innings, both teams exchanged leads; UMBC scored three times in the third while Bryant responded with two runs in their half of that frame and tied it later due to an error by UMBC. Ty Davis started for Bryant and allowed three runs over six innings with five strikeouts.
Reliever Justin Dressler pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings but was charged with four runs during UMBC’s rally in the ninth. Offensively for Bryant, Ellis Garcia drove in two runs while Gavin Greger and Charlie Saul each collected multiple hits.
This marks just the second time this season—and only the tenth under Head Coach Ryan Klosterman—that Bryant has lost a game it led after seven innings. The Bulldogs are now 11-5 all-time against UMBC but have suffered their first series loss to them. The teams conclude their series Sunday afternoon.
