Bulldogs drop both games on Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University softball team was dealt back-to-back losses on Saturday, falling, 9-3, to South Alabama and, 7-0, to Mercer.

GAME ONE

The Jaguars (15-3) went took an 8-0 lead at the top of the fifth, headlined by a three-run inning to open the game, scoring in each of the first six innings. In the first, Megan Harris and Kaleigh Todd both scored off wild pitches, while Savanna Mayo's single to first plated Haleigh Lowe. In the top of the second, Todd scored her second run of the game off a Bryant fielding error. The following inning, Amanda Minahan drilled a two-run homer to left center to push the lead to six, 6-0. Kristian Foster's RBI single through the left side put the Jaguars up seven, before Mayo hit one out of the park in the top of the fifth to make it 8-0.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, narrowing the gap to five, 8-3. With one out and runners on second and third, freshman Nicole Davis (Toms River, N.J.) singled to left field, as classmate Nicole Zukowski (Medford, N.Y.) scored unearned. Freshman Tiffany Bell (Egg Harbor City, N.J.) and Davis both scored off back-to-back wild pitches to pull Bryant within five.

The Jaguars answered back in the sixth, after Foster's sacrifice fly brought in MC Nichols from third. The Bulldogs went down in order in the bottom of the sixth and seventh, as the Jaguars solidified the 9-3 victory on Saturday afternoon.

Red-shirt sophomore Brandi Burgin (Santa Clarita, Calif.) received her first loss of the season, after allowing nine runs off 11 hits in five innings. Freshman Gabrille Ermish (Pottstown, Pa.) allowed a pair of hits in two innings. Destin Vicknair struck out four batters en route to her eighth win on the mound this season, as she allowed no runs off four hits in four innings. Bailey Murphy allowed three runs off one hit, but was quickly replaced by Chandler Sparkman, who fanned five, helping the Jaguars seal the victory. Junior Gianna Pizzano (Saugus, Mass.) finished 2-for-3, while Mayo went 3-for-3 and Todd 3-for-4 for the Jaguars.

GAME TWO

The Bulldogs (1-8) faced the Bears (10-10) directly following the South Alabama game and were dealt a 7-0 loss, after Mercer scored in only two innings. The Bears were first on the board in the bottom of the third, when Quirisa Mauga knocked a three-RBI double to centerfield. Mercer tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the fifth, including unearned runs from Danielle Castlebery and Abby Walsh. The Bears' other two runs in the fourth came off a walk with the bases loaded and a score from third after Caroline Taylor reached on a fielder's choice.

Sophomore Colby Norris (Toano, Va.) received the loss, despite recording a season-high five strikeouts. Megan Bilgri was dealt the win, allowing no runs off five hits, while fanning four batters. Bell went 2-for-2, while junior Robyn Ukegawa (Carlsbad, Calif.) went 2-for-3. Castleberry also went 2-for-2, while Mauga and Emma Andrew finished 2-for-3.

The Bulldogs wrap up the Citrus Classic 2 with one final game, tomorrow against Florida International at 12:15 p.m.