Bulldogs fall short to BC in extras, 4-3

BRYANT DROPS CLOSE-ONE TO BC, 4-3, IN EIGHT INNINGS TUESDAY

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – It took extra innings to determine the outcome of Tuesday afternoon's home opener as the Bryant University softball team fell, 4-3, to Boston College in eight innings.

An Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) single in the bottom of the seventh inning drove home junior outfielder Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) to bring the Bulldogs (5-12, 1-3 NEC) to a 3-3 tie with the Eagles (8-14, 0-3 ACC). However, Nicole Koszowski ripped a triple to center field in the top of the eighth, scoring Annie Sommers in what turned out to be the game-winning run for BC.

Bryant got off to a fantastic start as Guy homered to dead center in the first at bat of the afternoon for the Bulldogs, opening up an early 1-0 lead for the Black and Gold. The Eagles went on to tie the contest in the top of the third off a Tory Speer deep ball ad take the lead, 2-1, in the top of the fourth when Chelsea Dimon went deep.

The Bulldogs quickly responded in the bottom of the fourth when Taylor Bell (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) singled home Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) tying the contest at 2-2. The Eagles plated another run in the top of the fifth, regaining the advantage until the Mable single in the bottom of the 7th knotted everything at 3-3.

Senior Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) threw 5.2 solid innings for the Bulldogs allowing just seven hits and three runs while striking out five. Freshman Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) pitched 2.1 innings in relief, but was credited with the loss despite allowing just one hit and one run. Dimon picked up the win for BC throwing four innings in relief of Stephanie Lord.

Guy, Mable, Velasquez, Bell and Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) each tallied a pair of hits, while senior Christina Eringis (Tewksbury, Mass.) picked up a single in a pinch hit appearance for the Black and Gold. Guy, Mable and Bell all drove in a run with Guy scoring twice and Velasquez crossing home once. As a team, the Bulldogs outhit the Eagles, 11-8.

Bryant will have a pair of back-to-back Northeast Conference doubleheaders over the weekend, heading to Central Connecticut on Friday (2/4 p.m.) and hosting Wagner on Saturday (12/2 p.m.) Saturday's doubleheader was originally schedule for a 1 p.m. start but was moved up to a noon opening pitch.

For all the latest news on the Bryant University softball team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.