DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Bryant baseball team scored twice in the top of the 10^th to earn a 6-5 victory over Davidson on Opening Day at Wilson Field.
 
The Bulldogs have now won their season opener in each of the last two seasons. Bryant and Davidson wrap up their weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12:30 p.m.
 
On Friday, Bryant led 3-0 after 4 ½ innings and 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth before Davidson tied the game with a two-out single. In the top of the tenth, Casey Wensley capped a string of a three-straight one-out singles to plate two runs and give the Bulldogs a 6-4 lead. Justin Dressler then struck out back-to-back batters to strand the tying run on base in the bottom of the 10^th.
 
Ellis Garcia went 4-for-5, all singles, in his Bryant debut, while Wensley (2-4, RBI) and Hunter Kingsbury (2-5, 2B, R) picked up two hits in their Bryant debuts. Charlie Saul added a three-run home run.
 
Five Bryant pitchers combined to strikeout a single-game program record 19 and issue just three walks on the night. Kaden Hilburger struck out six over three scoreless and hitless innings in his first collegiate start.

Game Information
Bryant 6, Davidson 5 (10 inn.)
Records: Bryant 1-0 | Davidson 0-1
Location: Wilson Field (Davidson, N.C.)
W|L|S: Sean Zaslaw (1-0) | Hoyt (0-1) | Justin Dressler (1)
 
Key Moment

• Wensley roped a single to right field that skipped away from the right fielder in the top of the 10^th. The hit brought home Kingsbury, while Cam Papetti scored following the misplay.

How it Happened

• The two teams played scoreless baseball for the first three innings before Saul broke the deadlock with a three-run home run in the fourth. Garcia (1B) and Zac Zyons (BB) reached to start the inning and Saul brought both home with a drive over the left field wall.
• Bryant threatened to extend its lead in the top of the fifth as it put runners on the corners with one out. Ed Hall came out of the bullpen for Davidson and struck out two, leaving the bases loaded.
• The Wildcats finally broke through in the fifth as Aidan Rice picked up Davidson's first hit with a bunt single. Rice then scored on a double to left center from Diaz and Manjooran made it 3-2 with a two-out flare to center.
• Davidson tied the game in the sixth as Loughlin worked a full count before singling home McCullough.
• It remained tied into the ninth when the Bulldogs were able to take the lead. Papetti walked, was advanced to second on a sac bunt and scored as Garcia slapped his fourth hit of the game through the right side.
• Davidson, however, was able to answer and tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. The Wildcats started the inning with a leadoff single and the pinch runner then stole second. A two-out single to center tied the game at 4-4.
• In the top of the 10^th, Kingsbury and Papetti collected back-to-back singles to put two on. Wensley then ripped a 2-1 pitch into right field that kicked away from outfielder, allowing two runs to score and making it 6-4.
• Davidson opened the bottom of the 10^th with a leadoff double but Zaslaw rebounded with a strikeout. Bryant then brought in Dressler but a wild pitch and an infield single to deep short made it a 6-5 game with one out. Dressler battled back to strikeout the next two batters to close it out.

Inside the Box Score

• Bryant did not commit an error in the game and outhit Davidson, 11-9.
• The Bulldog pitching staff combined to strikeout 19 and walk just three.
• Hilburger struck out six, walked one and didn't allow a hit over three scoreless innings in his first start.
• Landon White struck out four and allowed two runs on three hits over 2.1 innings of relief.
• Owen Birchard allowed one run over 2.1 innings and punched out four.
• Zaslaw allowed two runs on three hits and struck out three over 2.0 innings.
• Dressler struck out two of the three batters he faced.
• Garcia finished 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
• Wensley collected two hits and drove in a run.
• Kingsbury had two hits, including a double, and scored a run.
• Saul homered and drove in three.
• Zyons walked three times in five plate appearances.

Game Notes

• Bryant improves to 5-6 all-time vs Davidson. The Bulldogs have won five of the last six meetings.
• Bryant has won its opening game in each of the last two seasons.
• The Bulldogs have now won 13-straight road games dating back to last season.
• Bryant pitchers struck out a single-game program record 19 batters on Friday. It surpassed the previous high of 18 that was set in a 16-inning victory over Elon in 2019.
• Hilburger returned to the mound for the first time since April 2, 2024 (682 days). Friday also marked his first collegiate start, the longest outing of his career and the highest strikeout total of his career.
• Birchard has now struck out 22 batters over his last 11.1 innings dating back to last year.
• Zaslaw is now 4-0 in his Brynat career following his 26^th appearance on Friday.
• Dressler earned his first save as a Bulldog and the first of his collegiate career (18^th career appearance).
• Garcia matched his career high with four hits and now has 18^th career multi-hit games.
• Wensley collected his 33^rd career multi-hit game.
• Saul's home run was the seventh of his career.
• Kingsbury made his collegiate debut on Friday, doubling to left field for his first career hit.
• Papetti's single in the 10^th snapped a streak in which each of his last seven hits had been home runs.

Up Next
Bryant and Davidson will close out their series with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12:30 p.m. Game one will be seven innings and game two will be nine.