Box Score DAVIDSON, N.C. – Michael Belcher delivered four perfect innings in his first collegiate start but Davidson scored in each of the final three innings to earn a 3-2 walk-off win over the Bryant baseball team in game two of Friday's Opening Day doubleheader at Wilson Field.

Bryant and Davidson split the doubleheader, with the Black and Gold winning the first game, 6-3, in seven innings. The two teams will wrap up the series either Saturday or Sunday afternoon, weather permitting.

Belcher, the first true freshman to start on opening weekend for the Bulldogs since 2016, struck out each of the first six batters and finished with seven over 4.0 perfect innings. Belcher and senior Mark Scamardella held Davidson hitless through six but the Wildcats scratched across single runs in each of their final three at-bats to pull out the win.
 
The top three in Bryant's order – Zac Zyons, Gavin Noriega, Pat D'Amico – combined for all five of Bryant's hits in the second game. Zyons went 1-for-3, Noriega had two hits including a double and D'Amico had two hits and drove in both Bryant runs.

Game Information
Davidson 3, Bryant 2 (9 innings)
Records: Bryant 1-1 | Davidson 1-1
Location: Wilson Field (Davidson, N.C.)
W|L|S: Ban (1-0) | Deitelbaum (0-1)

Key Moments

• Cotrone opened the bottom of the ninth with a great at-bat, drawing a seven-pitch walk. An errant pickoff attempt moved him to third and a hit batter with the bases loaded scored the winning run.

How it Happened

• Belcher set the tone for the Black and Gold, striking out the first six batters he faced in his collegiate debut. He went on to throw 4.0 perfect innings, finishing with seven strikeouts.
• Scamardella came on in the fifth and stranded a runner on second to keep the game scoreless.
• Bryant finally broke the deadlock in the sixth as the top of the order rallied. Zyons reached with a single and Noriega followed with a double to left field. D'Amico brought both home with a double to make it 2-0. 
• Davidson was able to get on the board in the seventh. Putnam collected the Wildcats' first hit of the night with a one-out double and came around to score on a ground out.
• In the eighth, a double and a single put runners on the corners with no outs for Davidson. Trey Deitelbaum entered and induced a fielder's choice that tied the game. The Wildcats would then put runners on the corners with one out but Deitelbaum got a strikeout and then induced a ground out to strand the bases loaded.
• In the ninth, Cotrone's walk started the inning and he was at third with no outs. Bryant issued an intentional walk and Bradley Lewis followed with a big strikeout. Brooks Ey then came out of the bullpen to get a strikeout but walk loaded the bases with two outs. An 0-1 pitch then hit the Davidson batter to bring home the winning run.

Inside the Box Score

• Bryant outhit Davidson, 5-4.
• Bryant committed two errors in the game.
• Belcher struck out seven over 4.0 perfect innings in his first career start.
• Scamardella struck out three and walked one over 2.0 scoreless innings.
• Sean Zaslaw allowed two runs on four hits in an inning-plus of work.
• Deitelbaum walked three in an inning-plus of work. He allowed one run and was saddled with the loss.
• Noriega and D'Amico each went 2-for-4 with a double. D'Amico drove in both Bryant runs.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 4-6 all-time vs Davidson. The loss snapped Bryant's four-game winning streak against the Wildcats.
• Belcher was making his first collegiate start and was the first true freshmen to start opening weekend since Steve Theetge in 2016.
• Zyons extended his on-base streak to 39 straight games dating back to last season.
• D'Amico picked up multiple hits in each leg of Friday's doubleheader. He went 4-for-8.

Up Next
Bryant and Davidson will wrap up their weekend series either Saturday or Sunday.