Bulldogs travel to North Carolina, face Camels in three-game series

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University softball team is still on the hunt for their first win, as they travel the Tar Heel State, where they are first set to take on Campbell in a two-day, three-game series.

SCOUTING THE CAMELS
The Camels (7-9) opened their season on a four-game losing streak in Las Cruces, N.M., before earning their first win of the season over South Carolina State, 29-1, in five innings. The Camels finished 3-2 at the College of Charleston Tournament, defeating South Carolina State, UMass Lowell and Mercy. Most recently Campbell went 3-3 when they hosted Camel Stampede, edging out Marshall, 4-3, while finding two big wins over Maryland Eastern Shore, 8-0, and 12-4, each in five innings.

CITRUS CLASSIC AND WILSON/DEMARINI CLASSIC RECAP
The Bulldogs began the season 0-9 after the season opening tournament in Orlando, Fla., followed by the Wilson/DeMarini Classic at Auburn University. Bryant saw tough competition at the Citrus Classic, including No. 23 Notre Dame, who defeated the Black and Gold, 7-0. The Bulldogs saw three close finishes, dropping to North Florida, East Carolina and Syracuse by one run, respectively. In their toughest competition of the year, the Black and Gold faced No. 4 Auburn, falling 10-0 to the Tigers in six innings.

ONE RUN
The Bulldogs faced their fourth one-run deficit against Murray State, 2-1, at the Wilson/DeMarini Classic at Auburn University (March 4). Prior, the Black and Gold were handed three one-run losses at the Citrus Classic, including two in which they took the lead first. Bryant had a one run lead through the fifth inning, before giving up two runs to North Florida, losing, 8-7, in their 2016 season opener. East Carolina took a 1-0 edge over the Bulldogs at the top of the fourth, before holding Bryant scoreless through all seven innings, allowing the Bulldogs only one hit in the game. After five innings of play, the Black and Gold lead Syracuse, 2-0, before the Orange scored the tying runs at the top of the sixth. Both defenses held strong, forcing extra innings, where Syracuse capitalized to hone in the game-winner in the top of the eighth. The Orange were able to hold onto the lead, handing Bryant their third one-run deficit of the weekend, 3-2.

ON THE MOUND
In addition to veteran pitchers, Elle Madsen and Hayley Bottino, the Bulldogs have utilized sophomore Logan Paul, redshirt freshman Brandi Burgin and true freshman Colby Norris. Norris has already appeared in six games, starting four of them. The Virginia native has taken some pressure off of Madsen by pitching 20.2 innings this season, striking out 12 batters, while posting a 3.39 ERA.

IN-AND-OUT(FIELD) BURGER
Returning in the outfield is reigning Northeast Conference Most Improved Player and First Teamer Taylor Burger. Burger had a standout sophomore season, where she led the team with a .350 batting average, along with 35 hits, 11 home runs, seven doubles, two triples, 23 runs scored and 30 RBI. The junior homered in each of the final six games of 2015, while posting a .947 fielding percentage. Burger was the only Bulldog to be named to the All-NEC First Team last season. The right fielder continues to perform this season, driving in two with a double in the season opener against North Florida. In the same game the sophomore recorded a season-best two putouts, which she repeated against Georgia State. Against Syracuse, Burger connected on two of her three appearances at bat, while adding a run in the bottom of the fourth. Most recently, the starting right fielder finished 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI against Georgia State.

MAD SKILL
Senior Elle Madsen is back on the mound for the Bulldogs and looking to make even more of a mark on the program than she has, in the last three years. After posting 96 strikeouts last season, Madsen has added 10 more to her 311 career strikeouts after the first nine games of the 2016 season. The senior recorded four of the five strikeouts in the eight-inning loss to Syracuse, 3-2. Madsen matched that season high, striking out four Georgia State batters in 3.1 innings on the mound. The pitcher was a force at the plate last season, recording team highs in home runs (12), RBI (36) and triples (2) last season. Madsen also managed 23 runs, four doubles and 42 hits. This year, Madsen has started off with a hit in 6-of-9 games so far, including doubles in each of the last two games.

BAT-TINO
Senior Haley Bottino continues to be a versatile player for the Bulldogs, seeing time on the mound and at first base. Bottino recorded a career-high 10 putouts against North Florida in the 2016 season-opener. Through the first five games, the senior racked up 32 total putouts and three assists, while only committing a single error. Batting cleanup against North Florida, Bottino recorded one run in the first inning and recorded two RBI. The Bulldog recorded her first strikeout of the season on the mound against Georgia State, while also earning her first hit in the same contest.

NEW KIDS IN TOWN
All six freshman saw playing time for the Black and Gold in the season opening tournament. Red-shirt freshman and true freshman Brandi Burgin and Colby Norris each saw time on the mound. Burgin made her first career appearance vs. North Florida, pitching 4.0 innings, where she allowed eight hits and three runs. Norris recorded four starts and six appearances on the mound, recording her three losses to date. Norris boasts a 3.39 ERA in 20.2 innings pitched with 12 strikeouts on the season. Jessica Gradillas has showed she can be effective for the Bulldogs, doubling against Syracuse, while recording a putout and two assists at third base. Second baseman Kaleigh Goulart went 1-for-2 and drove in her first-career run in the season opener against North Florida. Goulart also recorded a run, three putouts and three assists in the contest.

YOUNG INFIELD
Amongst those returning to the Bulldog dugout is a group of young, yet extremely talented infielders, including All-Northeast Conference Second Teamer Hayley Bottino. The senior collected 38 hits, 29 runs, six home runs and 27 RBI in 49 games. Bottino handled 80 chances and posted a .900 fielding percentage. Joining Bottino in the lineup is sophomore shortstop Rachel Monroe. Monroe's 2015 season was cut short due to injury, but last year's opening day starter homered in her first-career game and finished with five RBI in 27 games. New to the squad's infield this year are freshmen Kaleigh Goulart and Jessica Gradillas. The Bulldogs also return senior Liana Ogata, who appeared in 42 games at second base last season, posting a .941 fielding percentage. The 2015 Second Team All-NEC selection recorded 43 hits, 31 runs and 11 RBI. The Black and Gold graduated Jessica Benacquista, who started 39 games at first base, with-now sophomore Maritza Martinez playing the remaining 10. In just 45 at-bats, six of Martinez's 11 hits went for extra bases, including four home runs and a pair of doubles.