CLEMSON, S.C. – The Bryant baseball team put the tying runs on base in the top of the ninth but couldn't complete the comeback, falling to No. 19 Clemson, 7-5, on Sunday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
 
With the loss, the Bulldogs were swept by the nationally-ranked Tigers and fall to 2-4 on the year. Bryant's midweek game with URI has been canceled, so the Bulldogs will set their sights on a three-game series at Radford this weekend.
 
On Sunday, Bryant grabbed held leads of 2-0 and 3-2 before the Tigers scored twice in the fifth and once in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead. The Bulldogs cut it to 5-4 with a run in the eighth but the Tigers added two key insurance runs in the bottom of the frame. Bryant then plated a run in the ninth and had runners on second and third with two outs before a strikeout ended the game.
 
Ellis Garcia (1-3, HR, 2RBI, 2BB) and Justin Hackett (1-4, HR) homered for the Black and Gold, while Zac Zyons was hit three times and scored two runs.
 
Jackson Vanesko delivered Bryant's longest start of the year, allowing two runs on four hits over 4.0 innings. The Tigers, however, scored five times in 4.0 innings against Bryant's bullpen.
 
Game Information
No. 19 Clemson 7, Bryant 5
Records: Bryant 2-4 | No. 19 Clemson 7-0
Location: Doug Kingsmore Stadium (Clemson, S.C.)
W|L|S: Titsworth (1-0) | Ty Davis (1-1) | Allen (1)
 
Key Moment

• Allen entered with Clemson clinging to a 5-4 lead in the eighth and stranded the bases loaded.

How it Happened

• Bryant struck first on Sunday as Garcia launched the first pitch he saw deep over the left field wall for a two-run home run.
• The Tigers, however, started a trend by answering with a two-run shot in the bottom of the frame.
• It remained tied as Vanesko scattered two hits over his final 3.0 innings of work.
• In the fifth, Hackett jumped on a first-pitch fastball and drove it off the batters eye in center for his first home run of the year.
• Clemson took advantage of a leadoff walk in the bottom the fifth, taking a 4-3 lead as Tryston McLaddie hit a two-out, two-run home run to center.
• The Tigers threatened to break the game open in the sixth but Thomas Galusha came on to put out the flames. After Jarrell doubled home a run with one out, Galusha entered and stranded runners at second and third by retiring the next two batters. Brandyn Durand made a sparkling sliding grab in foul territory for the second out of the inning.
• Bryant then put together a late-inning rally for the third-straight game. In the eighth, Charlie Saul singled, stole second and advanced to third as Casey Wensley reached on an infield single. Durand then hit a pop up behind first that was misplayed due to the heavy winds, allowing a run to score.
• Clemson then called on Allen with runners on the corners and one out and he responded by striking out the first batter he faced. Mike Fiatarone was then hit by a pitch to load the bases but Allen induced a pop up to end the threat.
• The Tigers tacked on two key insurance runs in the bottom of the frame on RBI doubles from Crighton and Lichtenberger. Billy Mulholland was able to record the final two outs of the inning in his collegiate debut.
• Bryant had one last push in the ninth as Zyons was hit for the third time and Gavin Greger followed with a single. Two ground outs produced a run and Wensley was hit to put the tying runs on base. Wensley would steal second but a strikeout stranded the runners.

Inside the Box Score

• Clemson outhit Bryant, 10-5.
• The Tigers had seven extra-base hits on the afternoon.
• In addition to the five hits, Bryant walked twice and had seven HBPs.
• Bryant stole four bases on the game.
• Vanesko allowed two runs on four hits over 4.0 innings. He walked one without a strikeout.
• Ty Davis suffered the loss, allowing three runs on three hits over 1.1 innings. He walked two.
• Galusha retired all five batters he faced in 1.2 scoreless innings.
• Cole Schiff allowed two runs on two hits in the eighth.
• Mulholland recorded the final two outs of the eighth.
• Garcia finished 1-for-3 with two walks and a two-run home run.
• Hackett hit his first home run of the year.
• Zyons was hit by a pitch three times and scored two runs.
• Saul finished with an RBI.
• Wensley reached base twice and stole two bases.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 0-3 vs Clemson.
• Of Bryant's 11 runs in the series, six came in the seventh inning or later.
• Bryant has now stolen 16 bases through the first six games of the season. The Bulldogs didn't steal their 16^th base of the season until game 18 in 2025, game 15 in 2024, game 30 in 2023 and game 16 in 2022.
• Saul now leads the team with nine RBI on the year.
• Saul has hit safely in all six games this season and each of his last 10 dating back to last season.
• Jacob Gaudreau was hit by a pitch to extend his on-base streak to 11 games dating back to last season.
• Garcia's home run was his first of the season and the sixth of his collegiate career.
• Zyons tied the single-game program record with three HBPs. It is the second time in his career that he has been hit three times. Zyons has been hit by a pitch 57 times in his career.
• Hackett's home run was his first of the year and the seventh of his career. It was his first home run since May 17, 2024.
• Mulholland's relief appearance was the first of his career.

Up Next
Bryant travels to Radford for a weekend series beginning on Friday at 3:00 p.m.