Bulldogs gear up for 2018 season
SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- In two days, the Bryant University softball team will head to Arizona and officially open the 2018 season in the Hillenbrand Invitational.
The Bulldogs are coming hot off a season in which they narrowly missed the Northeast Conference Championships, finishing 12-36 with a 7-9 mark in league play. This year's squad is determined to make a trip back into the tournament.
Bryant head softball coach Shayne Lotito helped break down this year's squad, going position-by-position and giving insight into how the 2018 Bryant Bulldogs are built. From behind the plate to the outfield, this year's Black and Gold team will be a force in the NEC.
Pitchers
The Bulldogs will have some veteran arms in the circle this year, as junior Colby Norris (Toano, Va.) and sophomore Gabrielle Ermish (Pottstown, Pa.) are going to command a lot of innings for the Black and Gold.
"Colby works hard, she puts in the time, she goes the extra mile," said Lotito. "She's starting to come into her own on the mound. She's understanding what her strengths are and how to utilize those strengths. I think that if she continues to progress in that manner, she's going to find herself a dominating force on the mound for us this year."
Ermish is expected to be a consistent and dominant arm for Bryant, as well. Coming off of a season in which she went 10-8 with a 3.10 ERA, the sophomore is ready to continue that success in 2018.
"Gabi did a great job leading us into the conference season last year and doing what she needed to do on the mound," Lotito said. "She's still in that mental space now. She gets out there and knows what she needs to do."
A pair of freshmen, Adriana Sanchez (Clyde, Ohio) and Sarah McKeveny (Bohemia, N.Y.), and redshirt juniors Logan Paul (Shaker Heights, Ohio) and Brandi Burgin (Santa Clarita, Calif.) also will be able to step in and help the Bulldogs get batters out when called upon.
Catchers
Bryant will be anchored behind the plate by senior Robyn Ukegawa (Carlsbad, Calif.). Ukegawa, a starter in her first three years with the Bulldogs, has continued to improve every season under the mask.
"Robyn's done an amazing job thus far," Lotito said. "She's coming out confident and ready to play. Her arm strength has increased, and I feel like people just don't run on her. She did a good job of shutting down runners this past season in conference play."
The backstop threw out 11 potential runners last season and had a .988 fieding percentage behind the plate.
Freshman Alexandra Hickey (St. John, Ind.) and junior Dana Blasi (Waterbury, Conn.) each give the Bulldogs depth behind the plate.
Infield
The veteran makeup of this team will come from the infield. A pair of Massachusetts-based seniors, Gianna Pizzano (Saugus, Mass.) and Rachel Monroe (Southwick, Mass.) are going to continue to see major time. Two juniors, Jessica Gradillas (Nogales, Ariz.) and Kaleigh Goulart (Marion, Mass.) each saw big innings last season and will continue to play a big role for the Bulldogs in 2018. A pair of sophomores, Nicole Zukowski (Medford, N.Y.) and Marianna Politis (Arcadia, Calif.) each played in big roles for Bryant last season that they want to improve in in 2018.
Zukowski is Bryant's top returning hitter, having batted .243 and slugged .405 last season to lead all 2018 Bulldogs. She swatted three home runs to tie Goulart for the team lead in long-balls.
"You'll find the most experience in the infield," Lotito said. "This group has been together for a couple of years. We're excited about them. They really all flow and work very well together."
New additions to the Bulldogs include Dakota Bilodeau (Milford, N.H.) and senior Hannah Crofut (Buffalo, N.Y.) will give extra depth to the team. Crofut joins Bryant softball after a standout career on the soccer team at Bryant.
Outfield
While young, the Bryant outfield comes in ready to roll this season. Eager to learn, grow and show what they're capable of, the outfield will be a major factor for the Bulldogs this season.
"The youngness of our team is in the outfield, which is good," Lotito said. "It means that they are eager to learn. The outfield as a whole has a lot of range. They highlight a lot of different things well. They have a lot of athleticism that we'll want to use from them."
Sophomore Tiffany Bell (Egg Harbor, N.J.) has the most game experience of the Bulldogs outfield, earning 67 at bats a season ago. The then-freshman batted .224 and stole a team-high seven bases.
Joining Bell in the outfield will be classmates Nicole Davis (Toms River, N.J.), Helaina Michaud (Phoenixville, Pa.), freshmen Gianna Ceccarelli (Claremont, Calif.), Morgan Powell (Murrieta, Calif.), Sabrina Crane (Newtown, Pa.), and Kolby Deziel (Pasadena, Calif.). Junior Jenna Cali (Franklinville, N.J.) also returns to roam the outfield for the Black and Gold.
The Bulldogs will open up the 2018 season against Louisiana-Monroe at 3 p.m. eastern (1 p.m. local time) before battling the host team, the Arizona Wildcats, at 8 p.m. (6 p.m. local). The games will be broadcast live by the Pac-12 and Arizona Athletics.