SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant baseball team scored eight times in the bottom of the eighth to complete a sweep of Sunday's doubleheader and earn a series victory with a 13-9 victory over NJIT at Conaty Park.
 
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 16-9 overall and 4-2 in America East play. It marks Bryant's fifth series win in seven weekends to open the year. Bryant will face in-state rival Brown on Tuesday afternoon in Providence. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
 
Sunday's series finale was an absolute roller coaster as NJIT scored five times in the top of the eighth to take a 9-5 lead only for Bryant to score eight times in the bottom of the eighth. For the second-straight year, Charlie Saul delivered the big hit against NJIT as his three-run triple put the Bulldogs ahead for good in the eighth. Last season, Saul hit a walk-off three-run triple to cap a seven-run rally in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Highlanders.
 
Game Information
Bryant 13, NJIT 9
Records: Bryant 16-9, 4-2 | NJIT 8-14, 2-4
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Thomas Galusha (1-1) | Nelson (0-1)
 
Key Moment

• Saul gave Bryant the lead for good as he cleared the bases with a triple in the bottom of the eighth.

How it Happened

• Bryant scored first for the first time in the series thanks to an RBI groundout by Kingsbury in the first.
• The Bulldogs extended their lead to 3-0 with a pair of two-out runs in the second. Cam Papetti started the rally with a check-swing double down the right field line and Irizarry followed with a walk. Wensley and Garcia followed with RBI singles to plate two runs.
• NJIT rallied with two runs in the top of the third. Two walks put runners on and a Lorenzo Camilleri single made it 3-1. Conner Rippo two-out single to right brought in the second run.
• The Black and Gold answered with a run as Hackett singled to third and advanced to second on the errant throw to first. Story then fouled off three-straight 1-2 pitches before ripping an RBI single to right to make it 4-2.
• The Highlanders plated a two-out run of their own as Sallie singled, stole second and scored on an Austin Francis single. Justin Dressler kept it at one run as he struck out Camilleri looking.
• Bryant answered once again in the bottom of the frame as Kingsbury plated Wensley with a sac fly (5-3).
• The Highlanders closed the gap in the seventh as Camilleri continued his torrid weekend with a solo home run to right (5-4).
• In the eighth, NJIT sent 11 men to the plate and scored five runs on three hits. Bryant pitchers issued four walks in the inning. A walk opened the inning and an attempted sac bunt turned into a single as the ball died on the foul line. After a walk loaded the bases, Sallie hit a ground ball to third that Garcia threw wide to home, allowing two runs to score. Bryant then intentionally walked Camilleri with one out and a pair of infield singles plate two runs. A bases-loaded walk brought in the fifth run.
• Bryant then went to work in the bottom of the eighth. A walk and an HBP started the inning and Irizarry reached on an infield single to load the bases. Wensley followed with a two-run single to right center and Garcia was HBP to reload the bases. Kingsbury was also hit, forcing in a run to make it 9-8. Saul then roped a 1-2 pitch into left center and it scooted through the outfielders all the way to the wall for a bases-clearing three-run triple. A wild pitch and a sac fly by Irizarry gave Bryant the 13-9 lead.
• Galusha then retired NJIT in order in the ninth to end the marathon afternoon.

Inside the Box Score

• Bryant outhit NJIT, 13-8.
• Ty Davis allowed one run over 2.0 innings in his first conference start. He didn't allow a hit, walked four and struck out two.
• Dressler allowed two runs on four hits, walked two and struck out two over 2.0 innings of relief.
• Justin Vanesko allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits, walked two and struck out three over 3.0 innings of relief.
• Galusha recorded the final five outs, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings.
• Wensley finished 4-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored.
• Garcia posted two hits.
• Kingsbury drove in three runs.
• Saul drove in three with a bases-clearing triple.
• Papetti (2-3, 2B) and Irizarry both scored twice.

[Game Notes

• Bryant improves to 10-6 all-time against NJIT. The Bulldogs have won all three series at home against the Highlanders.
• Bryant has now won five of its first seven weekend series this season.
• Bryant improves to 10-2 at home this season and is now 144-35 at home since the start of 2016.
• Bryant stole five bases and now has 76 stolen bases through the first 25 games of the season.
• Wensley now has four four-hit games and 15 multi-hit games on the season and 47 in his career. He has nine multi-hit games in his last 10.
• Wensley went 6-for-9 with five runs scored in the doubleheader and 10-for-15 with three doubles, five RBI and eight runs scored in the series.
• Wensley and Greger each stole a base and end the weekend tied for the America East lead with 14.
• Kingsbury is now 14-for-40 with 16 RBI in 11 games since his return to the lineup. He has an RBI in each of his last five games. Kingsbury drove in seven runs in the series.
• Papetti posted multiple hits for the second time this year and sixth time in his career.
• Saul's triple was his second of the season and the second in his career against NJIT. Both have been game-deciding three-run triples vs the Highlanders.
• Garcia collected multiple hits for the ninth time this season and 26^th time in his collegiate career.
• Greger saw his hitting streak (7) and on-base streak (13) come to a close.
• Galusha picked up his first collegiate victory.

Up Next
Bryant makes the short trip to Providence on Tuesday for a midweek game with in-state rival Brown. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.