Wildcats defeat Bulldogs in LMU Tournament finale

SMITHFIELD, R.I – Despite a strong four-run fourth, the Bryant University softball team fell to Weber State, 15-7, in six innings on Sunday to close out the LMU Tournament.

The Wildcats (16-10-1) took an early 3-0 lead over the Bulldogs (4-20) in the bottom of the second, following KyRae Kogianes' two RBI double to left center and Sydney White's RBI single through the left side.

Weber State tacked on two more in the following inning, as Riana Splinter scored off a walk with the bases loaded and Kogianes knocked an RBI sacrifice fly to left field.

The Bulldogs pulled within one, 5-4, in the top of the fourth. With no outs and the bases load, Kirtlyn Bohling walked junior Rachel Monroe (Southwick, Mass.), allowing senior Haylee Haas (Moorpark, Calif.) to score from third. Senior Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.) then knocked an RBI single to left field, plating classmate Lauren Keast (Holliston, Mass.). Junior Robyn Ukegawa's (Carlsbad, Calif.) singled up the middle to score sophomore Kaleigh Goulart (Marion, Mass.), before Monroe tallied the fourth run off sophomore Jessica Gradiallas' (Nogales, Ariz.) ground out.

The Wildcats responded back with five runs in the bottom of the fourth off three hits and one error. Bryant cut the lead back to five, 10-5, in the top of the fifth when Keast scored off a fielding error by the shortstop. The Wildcats matched the run in the bottom of the frame when Sara Hingsberger placed an RBI double down the right field line.

The Black and Gold again responded, this time with two runs in the top of the sixth. With no outs and the bases loaded, freshman Bianca Mastropietro (Bronx, N.Y.) hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored classmate Nicole Davis (Toms River, N.J.) from third. Haas followed with a RBI single to center field to pull Bryant within four, 11-7.

The Wildcats put the game away in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs off three hits to seal the 15-7 victory in the bottom of the sixth.

Weber State scored 15 runs off 12 hits, while the Bulldogs tallied seven runs off nine hits. Landi Hawker went 3-for-4 to lead the Wildcats, while Ulegawa and Gradillas each went 2-for-3.

Bohling moved to 10-8 on the season, earning the win in the circle after allowing three runs off five hits in three innings. The Bulldogs played three from the pitching staff, but freshman Gabrielle Ermish (Pottstown, Pa.) recorded the loss after letting up three runs off two hits in 1.2 innings.

The Bulldogs return to the east coast to face Boston University in Wednesday's doubleheader in Beantown, beginning at 2 p.m.