ORONO, Maine – Justin Hackett tied the game with a bunt single and a wild pitch plated the winning run as the Bryant baseball team rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth to earn a 4-3 victory over Maine on Thursday afternoon at Mahaney Diamond.
 
With only their third win when trailing after eight under head coach Ryan Klosterman, the Bulldogs improve to 17-10 overall and 5-2 in the America East. Game two of the series is scheduled for Friday afternoon at 5:00 p.m.
 
Bryant trailed 2-0 through four and 3-2 entering the top of the ninth before rallying past the Black Bears. In the ninth, Hunter Kingsbury led off with a first-pitch single and Charlie Saul beat out a sac bunt to put the first two runners on. A sac bunt and a strikeout was followed by an intentional walk to load the bases. Hackett fouled off the first pitch of the at-bat before laying down a perfect bunt up the third base line. The senior shortstop then raced down the line and beat the throw, tying the game at 3-3. A wild pitch on a 1-2 offering to Cam Papetti brought in pinch-runner Dylan Prince with the winning run.
 
Cole Schiff, the third Bryant pitcher of the afternoon, retired the Black Bears on just 11 pitches to record his first collegiate save in his 55^th career appearance.
 
Game Information
Bryant 4, Maine 3
Records: Bryant 17-10, 5-2 | Maine 5-22, 3-4
Location: Mahaney Diamond (Orono, Maine)
W|L|S: Sean Zaslaw (2-0) | Friedman | Cole Schiff (1)
 
Key Moment

• Hackett laid down a perfect bunt with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth to bring in the tying run.

How it Happened

• Maine struck first with a pair of runs in the first. Nick Pepe led off the game with a home run and Hunter St. Denis made it 2-0 with a two-out RBI single to center.
• Maine starter Jason Krieger was stellar as he retired the first 14 batters in a row to start. Carlos Irizarry finally broke up the perfect game with a two-out double in the fifth. Gavin Greger followed with an RBI single through the left side to get Bryant on the board. Justin Hackett then walked and Bryant was able to tie the game with a successful 1^st-and-3^rd play as Hackett stopped between first and second, allowing Greger to score from third.
• It remained tied at 2-2 until the eighth when the Black Bears were able to retake the lead. Pepe worked a leadoff walk and pinch-runner Jack Quigley stole second and advanced to third on a balk. Quinn Murphy brought him home with a soft single to right.
• In the top of the ninth, Kingsbury singled back through the middle and Saul beat out a sac bunt attempt to put two on. Jacob Gaudreau advanced the runners with a sac bunt but a strikeout left Bryant down to its final out. Maine intentionally walked Gavin Greger to load the bases and Hackett tied the game with a perfect bunt down the third base line. A wild pitch on a 1-2 pitch to Papetti scored the game-winning run.
• Schiff then retired the Black Bears in order in the bottom of the ninth to close the door.

Inside the Box Score

• Bryant outhit Maine, 7-5.
• Kaden Hilburger settled down after a rocky first to tie his season high with 6.0 innings. He allowed two runs on three hits, walked three and struck out two.
• Hilburger allowed two runs on three hits and walked one in the first six batters of the game but rebounded to retire 15 of the final 17 batters he faced. The two baserunners came via walks in the second and fifth.
• Zaslaw worked two innings, allowing one run on two hits. He walked one and struck out three.
• Schiff recorded the save with a scoreless ninth.
• Irizarry led Bryant with a pair of hits, including a double.
• Greger reached twice with a single and a walk, drove in a run and scored a run.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 11-6 all-time against Maine. The Bulldogs have won each of the last four meetings.
• The Bulldogs have come from behind to win in the eighth inning or later in three of those four wins.
• Bryant won when trailing after eight innings for just the third time under head coach Ryan Klosterman (3-98-1). It is the first time since May 28, 2022 when it scored four times in the top of the ninth to eliminate Central Connecticut in the Northeast Conference Tournament.
• Bryant was held without a stolen base for just the second time this season.
• Irizarry collected multiple hits for the 7^th time this year and the 45^th tim in his collegiate career.
• Hilburger matched his season and career high with 6.0 innings.
• Zaslaw picked up his second win of the season.
• Schiff earned his first collegiate save on Thursday.

Up Next
Bryant and Maine continue their series on Friday afternoon with a 5:00 p.m. first pitch.