Bulldogs host Friars in in-state showdown, Wednesday at 4 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After splitting games most recently with LIU Brooklyn, the Bryant University softball team takes a timeout from conference play to host in-state rival Providence on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

The Bulldogs (3-25, 2-2 NEC) are coming off a 5-1 win over the NEC's preseason top selection LIU Brooklyn, where junior Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.) had a standout performance, finishing 3-for-3 with two home runs and three RBI.

The Black and Gold's second league victory also tallies senior Elle Madsen's (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) second win on the mound. The captain allowed only one run off five hits, while striking out two batters in the victory over the Blackbirds. Madsen leads the Bryant pitching staff in conference play with nine strikeouts in her 19.0 innings on the mound, posting a 1.84 ERA against NEC opponents.

The Bulldogs continue to improve through league play, batting .245, led by sophomore Robyn Ukegawa's (Carlsbad, Calif.) .500 and Burger's .400. Burger also tops the team with a 1.200 slugging percentage, three RBI and two home runs through the first four conference games.

Bryant finished 2-6 in nonleague games last season once returning to New England and is currently 0-3 against the same category of adversaries this season. The Bulldogs are 1-3 against Providence in Division I play, recording their only success in Smithfield, 9-6, on April 17, 2012.

The Friars (13-20, 1-7 BIG East) enter Wednesday's contest on a three-game losing streak, dropping the series to DePaul, 12-6, 8-6 and 9-1 in five innings. Providence is 1-3 in New England against nonleague competitors, finding its only regional win against Fairfield, 4-2, on March 19.

The Friars are led offensively by Emma Lee, batting .423 in her 31 starts, while totaling four doubles, a triple and three RBI. The freshman outfielder also leads the Friars with a .485 slugging percentage and .481 on-base percentage. Taylor Huntly and Christina Ramirez total the most time on the mound for the Friars, combining for 147.4 of the team's 207.1 innings. Ramirez is 6-6 with a 4.33 ERA, while Huntly is 4-10 with a 4.85 ERA.

The game is set to begin at 4 p.m., Wednesday at Conaty Park. Fans can watch the live broadcast at necfrontrow.com or follow along with live stats at bryantbulldogs.com.