SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant baseball team returns to America East play this weekend with a three-game series at NJIT. First pitch is set for Friday night at 6:00 p.m.

Bryant enters the series first in the league with a 13-2 record. NJIT is 6-8 and sits tied for fourth.    

The Particulars
Opponent: NJIT
Location: Yogi Berra Stadium (Little Falls, N.J.)
Date and Time: Friday, May 3 - 6:00 PM | Saturday, May 4 - 6:00 PM | Sunday, May 5 - 1:00 PM
Live Stats: Sidearm
Video: Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Game Notes: Bryant
Social Media: Facebook | X | Instagram | #AEBASE  

Probable Starting Pitchers 

Friday - Austin Wainer vs. Aidan Kidd
Saturday - Luke Delongchamp vs. Brandon Peterson
Sunday - TBA vs. Holden deJong

• Austin Wainer will get the ball on Friday night and is looking to build on his success against America East foes. He is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in five league starts. 
• Wainer has struck out 26 and walked 10 in 32.0 innings. He has pitched at least 6.0 innings in all five starts, including 7.0 innings in his last league start vs UMass Lowell.
• Luke Delongchamp has also shined in league play, going 3-0 with a 0.69 ERA in five starts. He has walked eight and struck out 25 in 26.0 innings. Opponents are hitting .216 against him.
• Delongchamp had walked just three batters over his first seven starts but has walked 11 in his last three. 
• NJIT will have the same weekend rotation as last weekend. Kidd is a bonafide Friday starter and is 2-3 with a 5.29 ERA. He has struck out 69 and walked 33 in 51.0 innings.
• Kidd is 1-3 with a 5.73 ERA in five league starts. He allowed seven runs on eight hits in 1.0+ innings of work last week at UAlbany.
• Peterson is 1-0 with a 7.04 ERA in five league starts. He has walked 16 and struck out 17 in 21.1 innings. Peterson allowed four runs on three hits over 4.0 innings at UAlbany.
• deJong has been electric the last two weeks, striking out 17 in his 14.0 innings. He allowed one run on three hits and struck out eight vs UMBC and fanned nine at UAlbany last week.

Bryant vs. NJIT

• Bryant and NJIT are meeting for the second straight year. The Bulldogs and Highlanders played a pair of weekend series last season, with the Bulldogs going 4-2.
• Bryant swept NJIT at Conaty Park with 5-2, 7-3 and 15-3 victories. In the series at NJIT, the Highlanders swept a doubleheader with a pair of walkoff victories. Bryant was able to grab the series finale.  

Bulldog Notes and Notables

• Bryant enters the week 28-14 overall following a Tuesday victory over Merrimack. The Black and Gold are 27-7 since starting the year 1-7. Bryant has won each of its five America East series this season.
• The Bulldogs enter the weekend 13-2 in league play, holding a 5.0 game lead. 
• Carmine Petosa has reached safely in all 42 games this season and his on-base streak sits at 45 dating back to last year. The streak is the longest by a Bulldog since Robby Rinn reached in 50-straight in 2016. Petosa is hitting .300 with 15 doubles, eight home runs, 40 RBI, 41 runs scored and a .476 OBP. Petosa is tied for fourth in DI program history with 22 career home runs.
• Gavin Noriega continues to pace the offense with 45 RBI and 45 runs scored. He has clubbed 14 home runs and owns a .475 OBP.
• Zac Zyons brings an 22-game on-base streak into the weekend. He is hitting .448 with six home runs, 16 RBI and 18 runs scored in America East play.
• Matt Smith has also played well in league play, hitting .519 with 12 RBI and a 1.404 OPS.
• Jared Burrows has been great out of the bullpen in league play, posting a 1.04 ERA in five appearances. He has allowed three hits in 8.2 innings.
• As a team, Bryant is second in the league in average but leads the league in runs, doubles, home runs, slugging, walks, OBP and OPS.
• Bryant leads the league with a 5.14 team ERA and 306 strikeouts.  

Scouting the Highlanders

• NJIT is 17-23 overall and 6-8 in league play. The Highlanders were swept by UAlbany last weekend but own series wins over UMBC and UMass Lowell.
• NJIT is hitting .263 and has an ERA of 7.03 as a team.
• The Highlanders are led by freshman Cade Ladehoff who is hitting .314 with 10 home runs, 46 RBI and 35 runs scored.
• Kevin Putsky has nine home runs, while Ray Ortiz and Luke Longo each have eight home runs.
• Joe Georgini is one of the league's top relievers, posting a 4.05 ERA and a 5-2 record in 14 appearances. He has thrown 40.0 innings.