Bulldogs fall to USC Upstate, 10-2, Sunday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University softball team fell to USC Upstate, 10-2, Sunday afternoon in five innings in its final game at the Spartan Invitational.

The Bulldogs (3-1) drop their first contest of the 2015 season, while the Spartans' (6-2) were able to capitalize on a few Bryant fielding miscues to help the hosts avenge Saturday's loss.

"Overall, we are disappointed we didn't come out as a team to finish the weekend," said Bryant head coach Shayne Lotito. "Despite the score, our pitchers did a good job inside the circle, however we need to work harder in the field and on offense, taking advantage of opportunities when we have them, to finish games and weekends in the future."

After a 1-2-3 first inning for Bryant, Upstate's Aly Schneider gave her team an early edge when she blasted a home run down the left field line. The Black and Gold would go on to add their only two runs of afternoon in the top of the second on a Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.) two-run blast to left field, scoring Hayley Bottino (Canyon Country, Calif.) in the process.

However the offense was few and far between for the Bulldogs as Lexi Shubert allowed just three hits, while picking up seven strikeouts in five innings of work for Upstate.

The Spartans would go on to add three more runs in both the third and the fourth to seal the 10-2 victory. Bottino and freshman Logan Paul (Shaker Heights, Ohio) combined to allow only four earned runs (10 total) on 14 hits in four innings in the circle.

The lone bright spot on a tough day for the Bulldogs was perhaps Burger, who went 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored, including her second homer of the season. Sophomore Lauren Keast (Holliston, Mass.) accounted for the third Bryant hit.

Along with Burger and Bottino, senior Jessica Benacquista (Belleville, N.J.) and junior Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) were named to the Spartan Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Despite the loss, Sunday closed a very good opening weekend for the Black and Gold which featured a trio of wins and a few record-breaking performances. The Bulldogs return to action on Friday, Feb. 27 when they open action at the Wildcat Invitational in Tucson, Ariz.