April 27, 2009

BRYANT TRAVELS TO UCONN, ALBANY THIS WEEK; HOST SACRED HEART FOR SENIOR DAY ON SATURDAY

Live Stats/ Video vs. UConn
Live Stats vs. Albany

SMITHFIELD, R.I.-  The Bryant University softball team will play its final games of its Division I season this week. as they travel to UConn and Albany this week before hosting Sacred Heart on Saturday for Senior Day 2009. The Bulldogs will take on the Pioneers, who qualified for the Northeast Conference tournament this year, at 12 pm, followed by Senior Day festivities. The Bulldogs went 2-2 last week after splitting doubleheaders against Brown and Fairleigh Dickinson, giving the team ten wins in their first year at the Division I level.

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 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 169 punch-outs on the year, giving her 248 for her career which ranks her third all-time. The sophomore has thrown 223.2 of a possible 257.1 innings for the Bulldogs this season, the most innings pitched for any Bulldog in a single season. She won her tenth game of the year on Sunday, throwing a complete game shutout against Fairleigh Dickinson to give her 20 career wins and tie her for sixth all-time.

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 30 games in left field and McCart playing 36 games in center. McCart is currently second on the team with a .281 average, recording seven hits in her last 15 at-bats over the last four games. She was six-for-seven in the doubleheader against Brown on Thursday with two RBI. Martin is third on the team with a .275 average, while tying for second with six multi-hit games. Fellow freshman, Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) has started in 37 of Bryant's 38 games at second base. Bowen drove in what would prove to be the game-winning RBI in game two of a doubleheader Sunday after Fairleigh Dickinson, going two-for-three with an RBI in the contest.

HOT CORNER
Third baseman Regina Burdo (Wayne, Pa.) broke out in a big way in a doubleheader against Brown on Thursday, going three-for-six with six RBI in the two games. Burdo hit a three-run double and then came in to score the game-ending run in the sixth inning as part of the 11-3 victory over the Bears in game one. The sophomore came back with another double in game two, this one in the second inning that brought in two more runs in Bryant's 13-7 loss in game two.

DOBMEIER GOING DEEP
Anne Dobmeier (Buffalo, N.Y.) hit two home runs in game two of a doubleheader against Brown on Thursday, giving her a team-best five for the season to compliment her team-leading 14 RBI. Dobmeier also leads the team in average, batting .290 for the year thanks to a recent four-game hitting streak. Over the last four games, the senior is hitting .533 with two long balls and four RBI to help Bryant to two wins.

BRYANT VS. THE NEC
The Bulldogs have registered a 5-4 record against future Northeast Conference opponents in nine games, after splitting a doubleheader with Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday. Houseal has posted a 2.32 ERA while making nine starts against the NEC, striking out 40 in 57.1 innings. The sophomore threw a complete game shutout against FDU on Sunday to help Bryant to a 4-0 win over the Knights. McCart and Martin have torn apart NEC pitching, combining to go 19-for-51 with one home run and nine RBI. McCart has hit .348 while starting in eight games, while Martin has hit an even .393 with a homer and five RBI. Dobmeier has also put up good numbers, batting .320 with a home run and six RBI. As a team, Bryant has outscored NEC opponents 35-26 on the season.

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
University of Connecticut (27-18)
The Huskies have won three-straight entering play this week and will look to go 2-0 against the Bulldogs this season after just barely squeaking by the black and gold, 2-1, back on April 7. UConn trailed Bryant 1-0 going into the top of the sixth inning, but was able to scratch two runs across to grab the win. Justyne Roy tied the game with a double and later came around to score the go-ahead tally. Julianne Towers is hitting a team-best .380 for the year while Rachel Crossin leads the team on the mound with 14 wins and a 2.00 ERA.

University at Albany (31-12)
The Great Danes lost two out of three to Maine over the weekend and will play Siena in a pair on Tuesday before hosting the Bulldogs in a doubleheader on Wednesday. Megan Butsch leads the team with a .389 average, hitting 12 home runs and driving in 36 RBI. Starting pitcher Leah McIntosh set the Division I school record for strikeouts in a career, getting her 596^th career strikeout against Maine on Sunday. McIntosh is 18-3 on the season to lead the team.