SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant baseball team stole eight bases and took advantage of 13 walks and three balks to win the series over UAlbany with a 15-5 victory on Sunday afternoon at Conaty Park.
 
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 19-14 overall and 7-5 in America East play. Bryant earned a pair of 15-5 victories to pick up its third America East series win in four tries. The Bulldogs wrap up their five-game homestand on Tuesday against URI.
 
On Sunday, Bryant trailed 3-0 early but took advantage of a UAlbany pitching staff that walked 13 and committed three balks. Two balks helped Bryant score three times to take the lead in the fourth, while Ellis Garcia's sixth-inning grand slam provided breathing room.
 
Bryant broke its single-season program record for stolen bases in just 33 games thanks to eight swipes on Sunday. The Bulldogs have now stolen 105 bases on the year.
 
Game Information
Bryant 15, UAlbany 5
Records: Bryant 19-14, 7-5 | UAlbany 8-20, 5-7
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
W|L|S: Dylan Scudder (2-2) | Nardacci
 
Key Moment

• Garcia snared a line drive with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth and then hit a grand slam in the bottom of the frame as Bryant pulled away with nine runs over its final three at-bats.

How it Happened

• UAlbany jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first. An infield single and a double off the left field wall were followed by a walk to load the bases with no outs. Cole Schiff was able to struck out the next two batters but Brian Guerrero three-straight 1-2 pitches before knocking a two-run single to left field.
• The Great Danes extended their lead to 3-0 on a passed ball with two outs in the second.
• Bryant got on the board in the third with an unearned run. Gavin Greger's liner back through the middle was deflected by the pitcher right to the second baseman but the throw was wild at first. Hunter Kingsbury followed with a single through the middle to make it 3-1.
• The Bulldogs then took advantage of UAlbany miscues to score five times in the next two innings to take a 6-3 lead.
• In the fourth, Gaudreau followed back-to-back walks with a bunt down the third base line that rested on the foul line for a single. A balk then brought in a run and Justin Hackett tied the game with a sac fly to left. A second UAlbany balk plated the third run of the inning to give Bryant a 4-3 lead.
• In the fifth, the first two Bulldogs were retired but a walk to Mike Fiatarone extended the inning. He then stole second and swiped third on another two-out walk. UAlbany's third balk of the game scored Fiatarone and Gaudreau followed with a single over the shortstop's head to make it 6-3.
• UAlbany rallied in the top of the sixth, plating two runs and loading the bases with two outs. Luke Filippi doubled and scored on a one-out single from Cooper Loyal. A two-out single extended the inning and an infield error brought in a run to make it 6-5. After a walk loaded the bases, Jaxon Mueller lined a 1-2 pitch down the third base line but Garcia snared it to end the inning.
• Bryant then exploded for five runs in the bottom of the sixth to open the game. Three-straight walks loaded the bases to start the inning and Garcia greeted the UAlbany reliever with a grand slam to left center. Two pitches later, Saul crushed a breaking ball onto the putting green in left field to make it 11-5.
• The Bulldogs pushed their lead to 12-5 in the seventh on a sac fly from Kingsbury.
• Bryant closed out the run-rule victory with three runs in the eighth. Fiatarone doubled, stole third and scored on an Irizarry single, while Wensley and Greger hit sac flies to bring in the final two runs.

Inside the Box Score

• UAlbany outhit Bryant, 10-9.
• The Great Danes made three errors and four UAlbany pitchers walked 13 and committed three balks.
• Bryant stole eight bases.
• Cole Schiff made his second start of the week and allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits in 1.0+ innings of work. He walked two and struck out three.
• Dylan Scudder allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits over 4.2 innings. He walked one and struck out two.
• Justin Dressler pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing just two baserunners.
• Garcia finished 2-for-5 with the grand slam.
• Wensley walked four times, stole three bases and scored two runs.
• Kingsley drove in two runs.
• Saul homered, finishing 1-for-5.
• Fiatarone and Irizarry each scored three runs. Fiatarone stole three bases.
• Gaudreau posted two hits, two runs scored and walked three times.

Game Notes

• Bryant improves to 16-4 all-time against UAlbany.
• Bryant picked up its third America East series win in four tries this season. The Bulldogs are 6-3 at home in league play.
• The Bulldogs will now play each of their next three America East series on the road (at Binghamton, at UMass Lowell, at NJIT).
• The Bulldogs are now 12-4 at home this season and 146-37 at Conaty Park since the start of 2016.
• Bryant stole eight bases and now has 105 on the year, setting a new single season program record in just 33 games.,
• The Bulldogs have stolen 44 bases (44-47) in 12 America East games.
• Kingsbury extended his on-base streak to 17 games. With two RBI, he has a team-high 14 RBI in America East games.
• Wensley stole three bases for the second time this season and is 23-of-24 on the year. The 23 stolen bases are the second-most in DI program history and 10^th in program history.
• Wensley also became just the fifth player in DI program history to record four walks in a game.
• Fiatarone set a career high with three stolen bases. He is now 5-for-5 on the year.
• Garcia's grand slam was the first of his career. It was his second home run of the series, seventh of the season and the 12^th of his career.
• Garcia now leads the team in home runs (7) and RBI (28).
• Garcia finished the series 5-for-9 with two home runs, six RBI, four walks and a .714 OBP.
• Saul's home run was his fifth of the season and the 11^th of his career.
• Garcia and Saul's back-to-back home runs marked the second time the Bulldogs accomplished the feat on the weekend.
• Scudder's outing matched the second-longest of his season.
• Dressler worked two or more innings in each of his last three outings and five of his 10 appearances this year.

Up Next
Bryant wraps up its five-game homestand on Tuesday as it welcomes in-state rival URI to Conaty Park. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.