Bulldogs drop both to Blackbirds in NEC regular season finale

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University softball team suffered two-straight losses to end regular season Northeast Conference play, falling to LIU Brooklyn, 7-3 and 4-2, on Sunday evening in Brooklyn.

GAME ONE

The Blackbirds (19-32, 5-10 NEC) found an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Schae Dickson hit an RBI double up the middle before Angie Vazquez placed an RBI single in centerfield.

Freshman Gabrielle Ermish (Pottstown, Pa.) continued success from the Bulldogs' (12-34, 7-8) sweep over Mount St. Mary's, homering to left field to pull Bryant within one, 2-1 in the top of the second.

The rookie also started on the mound, forcing the Blackbirds to go down in order in the bottom of the frame.

In the bottom of the third, Dickson pushed the hosts' back to two, 3-1, after putting one of the left field fence.

One inning later, Gina Bond followed suit, hitting a two RBI homer to right field to extend the margin four, 5-1.

In the top of the sixth, senior Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.) led off with a double to left center, before Ermish doubled to center field, plating Burger from second to pull the Bulldogs within three, 5-2.

The big bats continued well into the game. In the bottom of the sixth with one out and a runner on first, Victoria Zamora homered to center field, pushing the margin to five, 7-2.

In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, Burger fired one over the left field fence, totaling the Bulldogs third and final run, as the Blackbirds took game one, 7-3.

Burger went 2-for-4, scoring two runs, while Ermish went 2-for-4 with one run. Ermish was dealt the loss on the mound, allowing three runs off seven hits.

Zamora went 3-for-4, totaling three runs and two RBI. Alyssa Lanktree-Dodson earned her first win of the season in the circle, letting up three runs off 10 hits, while fanning six batters.

GAME TWO

After three scoreless innings and three combined hits from both teams, the Bulldogs (12-35, 7-9 NEC) found their first lead of the game in the top of the fourth. With one out and the bases loaded, freshman Marianna Politis (Arcadia, Calif.) singled to short, plating senior Lauren Keast (Holliston, Mass.) from third.

Junior Rachel Monroe (Southwick, Mass.) gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead, following Politis' lead with a single up the middle, scoring classmate Robyn Ukegawa (Carlsbad, Calif.).

The Blackbirds (20-32, 6-10) responded with three hits in the bottom of the fourth, but the Bryant defense held strong as the hosts scored no runs and left one runner on.

The Bulldogs went down in order in the top of the fifth and the Blackbirds capitalized, earning the lead after scoring four runs off three hits. Kylie Mulholland led off with a double to left center, before Karlie Brady singled up the middle. Angie Rizzi loaded the bases after reaching on fielder's choice.

With no outs, Zamora reached on fielder's choice, as Mulholland was tagged out at home. Bond followed, reaching on fielder's choice, while Brady was tagged out at home. With two outs and the bases loaded, Dickson singled, plating Zamora and Rizzi, while Bond scored on a throwing error by freshman Helaina Michaud (Phoenixville, Pa.) in center field. Dickson pushed the Blackbirds' lead to two, 4-2, after scoring on a passed ball.

The Bulldogs earned only one hit in the final two innings, going down in order in the top of the seventh, allowing LIU to take game two, 4-2.

Keast went 1-for-3 with one run, while Monroe went 1-for-2. Vazquez went 2-for-2 and Dickson finished 2-for-3 with one run.

Redshirt sophomore Logan Paul (Shake Heights, Ohio) moved to 0-6 on the season, allowing four runs off three hits, while fanning one. Haley Irvis recorded the win, letting up two runs off two hits. Tallie Woodson earned her third save of the season, striking out two.

The Bulldogs close out the regular season with a non-conference match against Massachusetts on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Conaty Park.