Zukowski drives in three runs but Crimson hold off Bulldogs, 6-5

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Trailing 6-2 after three and a half innings of play, the Bryant University softball team responded back with a run in three-consecutive innings, but with the game-tying run in scoring position, the Bulldogs came up empty in the bottom of the seventh, falling, 6-5, to Harvard on Tuesday afternoon.

Freshman Nicole Zukowski (Medford, N.Y.) drove in three runs, including two in the bottom of the first that gave the Bulldogs (7-28, 2-4 NEC) their only lead of the game, 2-1, over the Crimson (12-14, 3-5 Ivy). Senior Lauren Keast (Holliston, Mass.) singled to first base, before sophomore Kaleigh Goulart (Marion, Mass.) doubled to right field. With two outs and a 1-2 count, Zukowski singled up the middle, plating Goulart and Keast for the Bulldogs' 2-1 lead.

After both teams went scoreless in the second, the Crimson put together a five-run third inning, taking a 6-2 lead. Rhianna Rich led off with a singled up the middle, before advancing to third on a fielding error by freshman Tiffany Bell (Egg Harbor City, N.J.). Kaitlyn Schiffhauer placed one up the middle, plating Rich for the game-tying score, 2-2.

The Crimson then loaded the bases, following a Bryant fielding error and Elizabeth Shively's bunt. With no outs and the bases loaded, Catherine Callaway fouled out to left field, but Schiffhauer tagged up and scored from third for the go-ahead score, 3-2.

With one out and runners on first and third, Erin Lockhart added to the Crimson's lead, homering to left field to push the margin to four, 6-2. Sophomore Colby Norris (Toano, Va.) then checked in on the mound, fanning one batter to help Bryant get out of the inning.

The Bulldogs began to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring one run off three hits. Senior Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.) doubled to right center, before junior Robyn Ukegawa (Carlsbad, Calid.) singled up the middle. Sophomore Rachel Monroe (Southwick, Mass.) hit an RBI single to the pitcher, plating Burger to pull the Black and Gold within three, 6-3.

In the bottom of the following frame, Zukowski found her third and final RBI of the game, driving Keast in off a singled to right field to close the gap to two, 6-4.

After the Crimson went down in order in the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs capitalized in the bottom of the inning as they continued to fight back. Ukegawa reached first off an error by the Harvard first baseman, before advancing to second on the Crimson recovery. Monroe's ground out to the catcher moved Ukegawa to third. With one out, freshman Gabrielle Ermish (Pottstown, Pa.) hit a sacrifice fly out to left field, allowing Ukegawa to tag up and score from third, as Bryant trailed by one, 6-5.

With one last chance in the bottom of the seventh with one out, Taylor Cabe walked Goulart. The game-tying run moved into scoring position off freshman Marianna Politis' (Arcadia, Calif.) ground out to third. With two outs, Cabe caught Zukowski swinging as the Crimson took down the Bulldogs, 6-5.

Zukowski and Keast both went 2-for-4 to lead the Bulldogs, while Lockhart went 2-for-2 and Rich 2-for-3 for the Crimson.

Redshirt sophomore Brandi Burgin (Santa Clarita, Calif.) recorded the loss in the circle, allowing six runs off six hits in 2.1 innings. Norris allowed no runs off one hit, while fanning three batters in 4.2 innings. Kathleen Duncan earned the win, allowing four runs off eight hits, while striking out four. Cabe struck out two batters en route to her first save of the season.

The Bulldogs continue their five-game home stint, hosting Sacred Heart in a conference doubleheader on Friday, beginning at 1 p.m.