ORONO, Maine – Jackson Phinney and Gavin Noriega each clubbed three-run home runs as the Bryant baseball team clinched a top two seed in the conference tournament with a 10-4 victory over Maine on Friday afternoon at Mahaney Diamond.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 30-16 overall and 15-4 in America East play. Bryant also secured a top two seed in the 2024 America East Baseball Championships with the victory. The 30-win season is Bryant's 13^th in the last 19 seasons.

Phinney's three-run home run gave Bryant a 4-3 lead in the sixth, while Noriega's 16^th home run of the year pushed Bryant's lead to 10-4 in the eighth. Noriega finished 3-for-5, Brandyn Durand homered for the ninth time this year, Matt Smith collected three hits and Gavin Greger posted two hits. All nine Bryant starters scored a run in the game.

Austin Wainer earned his sixth win with 6.0 innings of three-run ball. He allowed nine hits, walked one and struck out three. Ryan Bradley and Landon White tossed the final three innings.

Game Information
Bryant 10, Maine 4
Records: Bryant 30-16, 15-4 | Maine 10-34, 6-12
Location: Mahaney Diamond (Orono, Maine)
W|L|S: Austin Wainer (6-1) | Mosseau (2-2)

Key Moments

• Phinney put Bryant ahead with a long three-run home run in the sixth inning. The Bulldogs went on to plate six runs in the inning.

How it Happened

• Maine opened the scoring with two runs in the third. A single to center scored the first and a double down the left field line made it 2-0.
• Durand got the Bulldogs on the board as he launched a solo shot to deep left center in the fourth.
• Maine got the run back as the Bulldogs threw away the return throw on a double play ball in the bottom of the fourth.
• The Black Bears were looking for more in the fifth but Zyons slid up the middle and flipped it behind his back to Chris Einemann to start an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
• Bryant used that momentum to plate six runs in the top of the sixth to take a 7-3 lead. Smith extended the inning with a great two-strike at-bat, singling to left center. Phinney then launched a three-run home run to left field to give Bryant a 4-3 lead.
• Greger singled and Justin Hackett walked to restart the inning and both scored as Zac Zyons dropped a double down the right field line. The final run scored on a dropped throw at first.
• The Black Bears got a run back in the seventh but Noriega put the game out of reach in the eighth. He crushed a three-run home run to dead center to make it 10-4.

Inside the Box Score

• Bryant and Maine each finished with 12 hits.
• Noriega went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run.
• Durand hit a solo home run to get Bryant on the board.
• Smith finished with three hits and a run scored.
• Phinney slugged a three-run home run.
• Greger picked up two hits and two runs scored.
• Wainer allowed three runs (two earned) on nine hits over 6.0 innings. He walked one and struck out three.
• Bradley allowed one run on three hits, walked one and struck out two in 2.0 innings.
• White tossed a scoreless ninth.

Game Notes

• Bryant improved to 6-5 all-time vs Maine.
• The Bulldogs are now 29-9 in their last 38 after starting the season 1-7.
• Bryant is now 15-4 in league play and has clinched a top two seed in the conference tournament.
• Bryant has now won 30 games for the second time under Coach Klosterman and for the 13th time in 19 seasons.
• Carmine Petosa extended his on-base streak to 46 games this season and 49 dating back to last season with his walk. It is the second longest on-base streak in program history. Robby Rinn reached in 50 straight during the 2016 season.
• Petosa has now walked 39 times this season.
• Phinney's home run was his fifth of the year and the 19^th of his career.
• Durand's home run was his ninth of the season.
• Noriega extended his single season record for home runs to 16.
• Smith is now hitting .442 (19-43) in league play.
• Zyons extended his on-base streak to 26 games.
• Greger now has hits in 11 of his last 12 games.
• Bradley has now allowed just one run in 7.1 innings over his last five outings.
• Wainer is now 5-0 with a 2.05 ERA in seven America East starts. He has worked at least 6.0 innings in all seven of those starts.

Up Next
Bryant and Maine continue their series on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.