SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant baseball team opens a three-game set at Dayton on Friday afternoon with a 3:00 p.m. first pitch. The series continues on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) and concludes on Sunday (12:00 p.m.)

Bryant enters the weekend at 4-5-1 following an 11-1 victory over Merrimack on Tuesday.     

The Particulars
Opponent: Dayton
Location: Woerner Field at AES Ohio Stadium (Dayton, Ohio)
Date and Time: Friday, Mar. 7 - 3:00 PM | Saturday, Mar. 8 - 1:00 PM | Sunday, Mar. 9 - 12:00 PM
Live Stats: Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Video: Friday Only
Game Notes: Bryant
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Probable Starting Pitchers 

Friday - Luke Delongchamp vs Chris Peguero
Saturday - Michael Belcher vs Peyton Malecha
Sunday - Clay Robbins vs J.J. Gatti

• Luke Delongchamp will get the ball on Friday for the Bulldogs. Delongchamp has worked 5.0 innings through three starts this season. He has posted seven strikeouts and three walks. Delongchamp struck out four and walked three in 2.0 innings at Delaware last week.
• Michael Belcher has turned in three strong starts to begin his career. He worked 4.1 innings last week at Delaware, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out six and has 17 punch outs on the year.
• Clay Robbins has also started his Bryant career with two strong starts, allowing just one run over 8.1 innings. He has struck out seven and walked two.
• Peguero has struck out 20 in 14.1 innings but has allowed 14 runs on 19 hits for the Flyers on Friday. He struck out 10 over 5.1 innings last week vs Bradley.
• Malecha has been touched up for 13 runs on 14 hits over 13.2 innings this season. His best start came in his first one as he struck out nine over 4.0 innings vs Western Michigan.
• Gatti has surrendered just six hits in 11.1 innings this year. He threw 6.1 innings and allowed three runs on three hits last week vs Bradley.

Bryant vs. Dayton

• Bryant makes its first trip to Dayton since the 2013 season. The Bulldogs opened up an eight-game spring break trip in Ohio with four games in Dayton against the Flyers and Wright St.
• The Bulldogs won both games of a doubleheader vs the Flyers by scores of 3-1 and 3-2. Dayton returned the favor with 9-2 and 5-3 victories in the opening weekend of the 2020 season at UNC Wilmington.
• Kevin McAvoy allowed one run on six hits over 6.1 innings in the opener, while John Healy allowed one run and struck out nine in 7.1 innings in game two of the 2013 series. 

Bulldog Notes and Notables

• Bryant is 4-5-1 on the year. The Bulldogs have lost the lead in the seventh inning or later in four of their five losses.
• The Bulldogs are hitting .250 as a team with 18 doubles and 10 home runs. Bryant's pitching staff has a 4.73 ERA and has struck out 84 in 80.0 innings.
• Brandyn Durand leads the team with a .425 average, four home runs and 15 RBI. 
• Gavin Noriega drove in six runs in Tuesday's win vs Merrimack and now has 10 RBI on the season.
• Mark Scamardella has delivered 5.0 scoreless innings of relief in three outings this spring. He has allowed just two hits and has struck out seven.

Scouting the Flyers

• Dayton enters the weekend with a 6-8 overall record following a pair of midweek losses to Bellarmine and Bowling Green.
• The Flyers are hitting .306 as a team but have a team ERA of 9.30.
• Michael DiMartini leads the team with six home runs and 18 RBI. He has posted 11 extra-base hits on the year and is 12-for-12 in stoeln bases.
• James Heller has been the most effective out of the bullpen, tossing 9.2 innings in four relief appearances. He has struck out eight and walked one.