April 22, 2009

SOFTBALL HOSTS BROWN IN DOUBLEHEADER THURSDAY; TRAVEL
TO FAIRLEIGH DICKINGSON SUNDAY

Live Stats vs. Brown
Live Stats vs. Fairleigh Dickinson

SMITHFIELD, R.I.- Coming off a tough, extra-inning loss to URI on Saturday, the Bryant University softball team will return home for the first time since April 7, hosting Brown University for a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon in what could be the final home game of the year. The Bulldogs will then travel to play future Northeast Conference rival Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday in another twin bill. Bryant will be looking to stop a three-game losing streak, posting a 3-3 record in their last six contests.

CLOSE CALLS
In their first season at the Division I level, the Bulldogs have proven that they can play teams tough. The squad has played in ten one-run games out of their 34 contests this year, winning two of those games. In three extra-inning games this year, Bryant has posted a 1-2 record. The Bulldogs are coming off back-to-back one-run losing to UConn and URI, falling in extra-innings for the second time this season to the Rams in their game on Saturday.

RECORD BREAKER
Samantha Houseal (Mount Joy, Pa.) set the record for most strikeouts in a season against Central Connecticut on April 1, setting down 15 batters on strikes in two games to give her 149 for the year and surpassing the old record of 148 held by Janine Enos. Houseal now has 163 punch-outs on the year, giving her 242 for her career which ranks her third all-time. The sophomore has thrown 199.2 of a possible 231.1 innings for the Bulldogs this season, the most innings pitched for any Bulldog in a single season.

FRESH FACES
Freshmen Lindsay Martin (Methuen, Mass.) and Lauren McCart (Vorhees, N.J.) have played side-by-side in the outfield for the majority of the season, with Martin starting 26 games in left field and McCart playing 30 games in center. Martin leads the team in hitting with a .280 average, registering seven hits in her last 18 at-bats with a home run and four RBI. She is also tied for the team lead with five multi-hit games. McCart is third on the team in hitting with a .243 average and ranks second with five doubles. She has put together five hits (four doubles) in her last 15 at-bats. Fellow freshman, Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) has started in 33 of Bryant's 34 games at second base. Bowen registered her fourth multi-hit game of the year on Saturday against URI, going two-for-three in the contest.

BEHIND THE DISH
Ashley Coon (Levittown, Pa.) enters Saturday's game with a five-game hitting streak. The junior catcher is five-for-15 in that stretch and currently leads the team in doubles with six while starting in all 34 games behind the plate. Over the last eight games, Coon has hit .296 to help Bryant to three wins in that stretch.

MIRANDO ON FIRE
Senior Stephanie Mirando (North Haven, Conn.) is hitting .321 over her last nine games hitting one home run and driving in five RBI. Mirando has a four-game hitting streak entering the week, going one-for-four against URI with a home run.

BRYANT VS. THE NEC
The Bulldogs have registered a 4-3 record against future Northeast Conference opponents in seven games, as they get set to play two games against Fairleigh Dickinson this weekend. Houseal has posted a 2.53 ERA while making seven starts against the NEC, striking out 38 in 44.1 innings. McCart and Martin have torn apart NEC pitching, combining to go 15-for-35 with one home run and eight RBI. McCart has hit .467 while starting in six games, while Martin has hit an even .400 with a homer and five RBI. Mirando has also put up good numbers, batting .300 with four RBI. As a team, Bryant has had a better batting average that their NEC opponents, (.256 to .246) while outscoring them 29 to 20.

BRYANT VS. THE IVY LEAGUE
The Bulldogs are looking for their first win against the Ivy League when they play Brown in a doubleheader on Thursday. Bryant is 0-4 against the Ivy League, losing twice to Harvard while also falling to Yale and Dartmouth. Bowen has hit Ivy League pitching well, going six-for-13 while starting in all four games, hitting one home run and driving in two.

WALLACE GETS WIN NUMBER 200
With a, 4-0, victory over Central Connecticut in game one of a doubleheader on Wednesday, Bryant head coach Lisa-Ann Wallace got her 200th win with the Bulldog softball program. The all-time winningest coach in the history of the program, Wallace now has a record of 202-196-1 in her ninth season at the helm. Houseal came within one out of pitching a perfect game in the contest, surrendering a two out double in the bottom of the seventh to end the bid but still get the complete game shutout.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Brown University
The Bears enter the week with an 11-21 record overall, going 5-11 against the Ivy League. Brown is looking to get back on track after losing six of their last seven contests, including dropping two to Harvard over the weekend. Kate Strobel leads the team in hitting with a .344 average, blasting five home runs and driving in 19, while Kelsey Wilson has a team-best 20 RBI. On the mound, Brown has been led by Michelle Moses, going 5-5 in 19 appearances and making 12 starts. Moses has thrown six complete games this year while also recording three saves. The senior has pitching in 75.2 innings, striking out 58 batters and walking 26.

Fairleigh Dickinson
The Knights enter the week with a record of 9-31, going 4-12 in the Northeast Conference. The team has lost nine of their last ten contests, and will play six games this week before welcoming in Bryant on Sunday. Brianne Benedict has been the most consistent hitter on the team, registering a .335 average while starting in all 40 games in right field. Kristen Shreve and Caitlin Bradac have been the primary pitchers for the Knights. Shreve is 5-13 in 21 appearances, throwing in 97 innings while striking out 72. Bradac has gone 3-12 while appearing in 22 games and pitching 105.1 innings.