Offensive struggles plague Bulldogs, fall twice to RMU Sunday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University softball team dropped a pair to Northeast Conference leader Robert Morris, falling in Game 1, 2-0, before losing Game 2, 5-0, Sunday at Conaty Park.

Colonial (18-15, 6-0 Northeast Conference) senior pitcher Nicole Sleith was the story on Sunday as the two-time NEC Pitcher of the Year threw a pair of shutouts, allowing just six Bulldog (11-26, 3-5 NEC) hits and three walks to go along with 13 strikeouts in a combined 14 innings of work.

Game 1

The first leg of the doubleheader was a pitching duel between Sleith and Bryant junior Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) with Robert Morris pushing across runs in the second and seventh to secure the 2-0 Game 1 win.

Sleith allowed only four hits and a walk with six Ks in seven innings of work, while her counterpart, Madsen, was nearly as impressive giving up two runs (one earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts.

After a scoreless first inning, Haileigh Stocks got things going for the visitors in the top of the second with a double to left center. After a ground out to third, Ashley Gerhart sent a single into left field that induced a poor throw home allowing Stocks to score the first run of the contest and five RMU the 1-0 lead.

Over the next few innings, the Bulldogs struggled to get things going offensively with their best opportunity coming in the bottom of the fifth when a Hayley Bottino (Canyon Country, Calif.) leadoff double and a Robyn Ukegawa (Carlsbad, Calif.) single put runners on the corners with one out. However, Sleith was able to pitch her way out of the jam preserving the 1-0 edge.

Robert Morris tacked on one more run in the top of the seventh when a Samantha Santillo double to right field scored Gerhart to put the Colonials up 2-0 to secure the win for the visitors.

Junior second baseman Liana Ogata (Tustin, Calif.) accounted for half of the Bryant offensive output, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.

Game 2

The second leg of the double dip brought more of the same for both teams as Sleith guided her team to the 5-0 victory.

Sleith allowed just two hits and two walks to go along with seven Ks in seven innings for her 15th win of the year. Bottino allowed two runs on just two hits and a walk in two innings of work in her 10th start of the year, while Madsen gave up two earned runs (three total) on seven hits and two walks in five innings of relief.

The Colonials did their damage in the middle innings, patiently pushing five runs across from the second inning through the fourth. Gerhart accounted for three of the visitors nine hits to go along with two RBI and a run scored.

As a team, Bryant struggled at the dish, only managing a pair of hits on the day, a single from Madsen in the bottom of the second and a double from senior centerfielder Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) in the third.

Looking ahead, the Black and Gold will have a few days to regroup before they host URI for a single game on Thursday (4 p.m.) in Smithfield, before returning to NEC play on Saturday when they welcome Sacred Heart for a pair.