Paul has career day; Eagles edge out Bulldogs 1-0

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite redshirt sophomore Logan Paul's (Shaker Heights, Ohio) career-best five strikeouts, the Bryant University softball team was edged out by Boston College, 1-0, on Wednesday afternoon in Smithfield.

In the top of the second, the Eagles lead off with back-to-back singles, before Allyson Moore reached on a fielder's choice. With one out and runners on first and second, Paul struck out two-straight batters swinging to help the Bulldogs end the inning unscathed.

After recording their first hit in the opening frame, the Bulldogs went dry in the next two innings. The Eagles capitalized taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. With one out and two runners in scoring position, Lexi DiEmmanuele reached first on an error and Tatiana Cortez ran in for the one-run edge. With two runners still on base, Paul struck out Jules Trevino and Madison Paulson to end the inning.

In the bottom of the frame with one out, freshman Nicole Zukowski's (Medford, N.Y.) single up the middle moved classmate Marianna Politis (Arcadia, Calif.) to second, but the Bulldogs came up empty as Bianca Mastropietro (Bronx, N.Y.) and Kaleigh Goulart (Marion, Mass.) went down swinging.

In the bottom of the fifth, Jessica Dreswick checked in for Kendra Friedt on the mound. After striking out senior Lauren Keast (Holliston, Mass.), Dreswick walked pinch hitter Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.). The following two Bulldogs grounded out, stranding Burger's pinch runner Helaina Michaud (Phoenixville, Pa.) on second.

The Bulldogs were unable to get anything going in the final two innings, going down in order in the bottom of the sixth and seventh, as the Eagles held on to win 1-0.

Bell and Zukowski both went 1-for-2, totaling the Bulldogs' only two hits. Cortez and Jordan Chimento finished 2-for-3, as the Eagles totaled nine hits in the contest.

Paul was issued the loss, moving to 0-3 on the season after allowing one run off eight hits, while throwing a career-high five strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Friedt was awarded the win, holding the Bulldogs to no runs off two hits, while fanning seven batters in four innings. Dreswick recorded the save.

The Black and Gold return to action this weekend, hitting the road for back-to-back NEC doubleheaders at Central Connecticut and Wagner.