Three Bulldogs add long balls, but Bryant falls in doubleheader to Providence

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Three Bulldogs homered, highlighted by a three-run home run by senior Robyn Ukegawa (Carlsbad, Calif.), but the Bryant University softball team fell in both ends of a doubleheader against the Providence College Friars on Wednesday evening at Conaty Park in Smithfield.

GAME INFORMATION

Providence 10, Bryant 4
Providence 4, Bryant 3

Records: Providence 9-21 | Bryant 9-22
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)

W|L: Christina Ramirez (5-8) | Brandi Burgin (0-1)
W|L: Miranda Trinidad (3-8) | Sarah McKeveny (2-8)

COACH LOTITO'S COMMENTS:

"It was nice to see some different kids come in and do a really good job. I'm really proud of all of the kids that came in, worked hard and got better as the games went on. I think Logan threw a great game. It's unfortunate that it went the way that it went because she and Sarah each had great outings. Our batters looked pretty good overall. We're getting ready for the weekend now."

KEY MOMENTS (Game 1)

• Leading 3-0, Providence's Brittney Veler and Vanessa Portillo hit back-to-back home runs to give the Friars a 6-0 lead in the third inning.
• In the bottom half of the frame, Ukegawa sent a three-run shot over the left-center field fence to shave the Friar lead in half.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)

• Back-to-back doubles in the first inning gave the Friars an early 1-0 lead.
• Providence got five runs in the third. Prior to the back-to-back home runs, a pair of RBI singles extended PC's lead to 3-0.
• Annie Flego sent a blooper down the right-field line to score a Friar from third base and increase PC's lead to 7-3.
• Providence started the sixth inning with three-straight hits and two runs after Paige Mulry scored a pair with a single up the middle. A bases-loaded walk rounded accounted for the 10^th Friar run.
• In the bottom of the sixth, freshman Dakota Bilodeau (Milford, N.H.) launched a solo home run to start the inning. It was Bilodeau's third home run of the season, tying her for the team lead.

STATS (Game 1)

• Six Bulldogs had hits in the first game. Freshmen Kolby Deziel (Pasadena, Calif.), Gianna Ceccarelli (Claremont, Calif.), and Bilodeau all had hits, as did Ukegawa, junior Marianna Politis (Arcadia, Calif.), and junior Jenna Cali (Franklinville, N.J.).
• Freshman Adriana Sanchez (Clyde, Ohio) pitched in the seventh inning, allowing just a walk.

KEY MOMENTS (Game 2)

• After Ceccarelli singled up the middle to begin the third inning, junior Jessica Gradillas (Nogales, Ariz.) launched a home run that went well beyond the fence in left field giving the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)

• Bryant began the game's scoring in the second inning. Sophomore Nicole Davis () grounded out with the bases loaded to score Politis from third base.
• Gradillas' home run, her third of the season, gave Bryant a 3-0 lead.
• Providence scored four runs in the fourth inning to take its first and final lead of the game. Veler homered for the second time in the day, a two-run shot, to bring Providence within a run. An RBI groundout from Flego tied the game at three, and Mackensie Compton gave the Friars the lead with an RBI single to right field.
• The game was called at the end of the fifth inning due to darkness.

STATS (Game 2)

• Gradillas led the Bulldogs in a 2-for-3 effort at the plate. She also had a two-out infield single in the first inning for the first Bulldog hit.
• Sanchez, Ceccarelli, and Politis all had single-hit games for the Bulldogs in the second game.
• Freshman Sarah McKeveny (Bohemia, N.Y.) pitched two innings in relief and struck out four batters after she settled in. She surrendered just one hit and allowed two walks.
• After allowing a hit with two outs in the first inning, senior Logan Paul (Shaker Heights, Ohio) retired the next five batters she faced.

GAME NOTES

• Politis went 2-for-3 on the day and also had a walk, giving her a .750 on-base percentage across both games.
• Senior Brandi Burgin (Santa Clarita, Calif.) made her first start in the circle this season. She picked up two strikeouts in 2.1 innings of work.
• The team's three home runs tied a single-day best for the season. Bryant also homered three times at Hartford on March 25 and three times on April 7 versus LIU Brooklyn.

UP NEXT

Bryant returns to NEC competition on Saturday when the Bulldogs head to Sacred Heart for a doubleheader with the Pioneers beginning at 1 p.m. The team returns home Sunday for another twin-bill against Central Connecticut, also at 1 p.m.