Bulldogs host Seahawks and Mount in weekend doubleheaders

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University softball team is back in Northeast Conference action this weekend, with doubleheaders against Wagner on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. and Mount St. Mary's on Sunday at noon and 2 p.m.

The Bulldogs (3-26, 2-2 NEC) enter the contest on a one-game losing streak, dropping their latest game, 7-0, to Providence on Tuesday. The Black and Gold are 2-2 in NEC play after splitting games with Sacred Heart and LIU Brooklyn. Bryant continues to find its most success in conference play, batting .245 against league opponents and .183 through all 29 games.

Senior Liana Ogata (Tustin, Calif.) continues to lead the Bulldogs, batting .269 on the season, while sophomore Robyn Ukegawa's (Carlsbad, Calif.) .500 leads Bryant in league play. Junior Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.) tops the team with three home runs, 11 RBI and a .434 slugging percentage on the year. The New England native hit two out of the park in Bryant's 5-1 win over LIU Brooklyn on April 10.

The Bulldogs are 9-5 against the Seahawks (13-18, 0-4 NEC) and 6-6 against the Mount (10-24, 2-2 NEC) in Division I play. In their last matchup, Bryant split games with Wagner, winning, 12-3, in five innings, before losing, 5-1, in Staten Island last season. In their largest victory, the Bulldogs trumped the Seahawks, 26-0, in five innings on March 27, 2011. Last year, the Black and Gold also split games with Mount St. Mary's, defeating the hosts, 13-0, in five innings, before falling, 6-5, in the doubleheader in Emmitsburg.

Wagner bats .290 on the year, while the Mount averages .307 through 34 games this season. The Seahawks' Erica Krumbine averages .352 in her 71 at bats, while Hana Gilbert bats .295 and leads Wagner with three home runs and 25 RBI in 27 games. Morgan Brown has seen the most time on the mound, recording a 3.74 ERA and leads the pitching staff with 67 strikeouts.

The Mount is led by Marisa Mayes' .376 average and two triples, while Rachel Heinze tops the squad with eight doubles, 16 home runs and 33 RBI. Heinze bats .340 and also leads the Mount with a .903 slugging percentage. On the mound, Sam Lichtner averages a staff-best 6.58 ERA, striking out 42 batters in her 18 appearances pitching. Marian Ruf has seen nearly the same amount of time on the mound, recording 33 strikeouts and a 7.54 ERA in 16 games.  

Doubleheader action is set to begin in Smithfield at 1 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.