Bulldogs fall to Friars, 7-0, Wednesday afternoon in Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After a one-run deficit through five innings of play, the Bryant University softball team gave up six runs in the top of the sixth, losing 7-0 to Providence, Wednesday afternoon in Smithfield.

The Friars (3-26, 1-7 BIG East) kicked off their scoring in the top of the first, when Nicole Lundstrom singled through the right side, plating Kiki Baldassari from second for PC's 1-0 lead over the Bulldogs (3-26, 2-2 NEC).

Both teams hit a dry spell until PC exploded in the top of the sixth, scoring six runs to take a commanding 7-0 lead. With one out, freshman Colby Norris (Toano, Va.) walked Kelsi Luttrell, before she advanced to second off Lundstrom's single through the left side.

The Friars pushed their lead to two, 2-0, when Julianne Rurka doubled to right center, allowing Lundstrom to reach third and Luttrell to score. Brittney Veler, the next batter, reached first on fielder's choice, while Rurka and Lundstrom safely advanced to second and third.

With one out and the bases loaded, Norris hit the following two batters, forcing in both runners from third as PC took a 4-0 lead in the top of the sixth. The Friars tacked on another score, 5-0, after Kemp was walked, bringing Veler in from third.

The Friars' scoring frenzy in the sixth led to a pitching change, placing senior Hayley Bottino (Canyon Country, Calif.) on the mound for the Bulldogs. Bryant found the second out of the sixth after Bottino threw out the runner from third at home. Providence added their final two runs of the contest off Emma Lee's two RBI single to left field, before the Bulldogs recorded the third out on the baserunner at second.

The Friars scored seven runs off seven hits, while the Bulldogs accumulated a pair of hits by junior Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.) and sophomore Robyn Ukegawa (Carlsbad, Calif.).

Redshirt freshman Brandi Burgin (Santa Clarita, Calif.) recorded her third loss on the mound, allowing one run off four hits in her three innings pitching. Norris gave up six runs off two hits, while recording four strikeouts in 2.1 innings on the mound. Bottino finished out the last 1.2 innings of the contest, letting up a single hit. PC's Megan McCune earned her fourth win of the season, allowing just two hits, while striking out two batters in the full seven innings.