Bulldogs gear up for big NEC weekend in Smithfield

Smithfield, RI – The Bryant University softball team gets back into Northeast Conference play with a pair of home doubleheaders, vs. Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday (12/2 p.m.) and Sunday vs. Robert Morris (12/2 p.m.).

The Bulldogs (10-23, 2-2 NEC) are looking to fire up their bats and turn the tide with the hopes of snapping their three-game skid over the weekend. After dropping Game 2 of a double dip vs. Wagner on Saturday, the Black and Gold struggled to get things going at the dish during the week, falling to Albany on Tuesday and Brown on Wednesday.  

Bryant will look to get their offense back on track on Saturday when Fairleigh Dickinson (6-14, 3-3 NEC) comes to town. Sophomore outfielder Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.) leads the team with a .353 batting average, is tied for second with five home runs, and tied for third with 17 RBI. Junior Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) leads the Bulldogs with 27 RBI and seven home runs. The junior is also the go to pitcher for Bryant, having already thrown 106.2 innings this season. Her 54 strikeouts and 3.54 ERA are both best on the team.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs will host the 6-14 Knights who most recently suffered a doubleheader sweep at Columbia, only scoring two runs in the two games. Junior catcher Madelaine Wilen leads Fairleigh Dickinson with a .382 batting average, five home runs, 15 runs scored, and 14 RBI, while sophomore Madison Lerma is second on the team with 12 RBI and third with a .315 batting average. Last season, FDU captured the #3 overall seed in the NEC Tournament and split its regular season contests vs. Bryant.

NEC-leader Robert Morris comes to town on Sunday for a double-dip looking to improve on its perfect 4-0 league record. Most recently falling to Canisius on April 1, the Colonials will play an afternoon tilt at Bucknell on Friday before making the trek to Smithfield for the NEC doubleheader. One of the mainstays for RMU over the past 3+ seasons is two-time NEC Pitcher of the Year Nicole Sleith. Sleith, who has posted a 1.56 ERA in 135 innings thus far this season, enters the weekend with a 13-8 overall record to go along with 195 strikeouts. At the dish, 2014 All-NEC first baseman Jordan Gurganus leads her team with a .396 average and 19 runs scored. Junior outfielder Kristen Gabelt leads her team in the power categories with six homeruns and 19 RBI to go along with a .384 average. Last season, the Bulldogs and Colonials split a doubleheader in Moon Township, Pa.