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Photo by: Chris Hook
Photo by: Chris Hook
Posted: Feb 07, 2019

Bryant opens 2019 season Friday in Miami

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The spring season has finally arrived as the Bryant University softball team officially opens the 2019 schedule in Miami, Fla. at the Felsberg Invitational on Friday, Feb. 8. The Bulldogs will first meet with Memphis at 10 a.m. followed by UConn at 12:15 p.m.

The Bulldogs will also meet with Michigan State and tournament host, Florida International, throughout the course of the weekend. 

THE PARTICULARS

Friday
Opponents: Game 1 – Memphis | Game 2 - UConn
Location: Felsberg Field at the FIU Softball Stadium (Miami, Fla.)
Times: 10 a.m. | 12:15 p.m.

Saturday
Opponents: Game 1 – UConn | Game 2 – Michigan St.
Location: Felsberg Field at the FIU Softball Stadium (Miami, Fla.)
Times: 10 a.m. | 12:15 p.m.

Sunday
Opponent: Florida International
Location: Felsberg Field at the FIU Softball Stadium (Miami, Fla.)
Time: 9 a.m.
Watch live: CUSA.tv

Live Stats: Sidearm Stats

SERIES HISTORY

  • Bryant's meeting with both Memphis and Michigan State will be the first in program history.
  • The Bulldogs have met with UConn on ten different occasions since moving up to the Division I era. The Black and Gold has yet to defeat the Huskies falling, 4-1, last season.
  • In 2017, Bryant met with Florida International in Orlando, Fla. at the Citrus Classic for the first time in program history. FIU took the meeting, 4-0.

BULLDOGS NOTES AND NOTABLES

  • Nick French enters his first season as head coach after serving as the assistant coach a year ago.
  • The Bulldogs are coming off a 14-31 overall record last season tying with Mount St. Mary's for sixth place in the conference.
  • Bryant welcomes back 19 returning players including lone All-NEC selection, Gianna Ceccarelli (Claremont, Calif.), and team captains Helaina Michaud (Phoenixville, Pa.), Nicole Zukowski (Medford, N.Y.) and Jessica Gradillas (Nogales, Ariz.).
  • Junior Tiffany Bell (Egg Harbor City, N.J.) and sophomore Morgan Powell (Murrieta, Calif.) return as Bryant's leaders in stolen bases. The duo combined for 16 last season.
  • In the circle, the Bulldogs return the majority of their pitchers in Gabrielle Ermish (Pottstown, Pa.), Sarah McKeveny (Bohemia, N.Y.) and Colby Norris (Toano, Va.) as the three veteran pitchers appeared in 69 percent of innings played in 2018.

SCOUTING THE FIELD

  • Memphis finished with an overall record of 37-21 last season finishing fifth in the American Athletic Conference with a record of 10-11.
  • Despite finishing last in the American Athletic Conference, the Huskies completed the season, 20-35, overall with a 5-16 conference record.
  • Michigan State fell to Northwestern in the BIG 10 semifinal game to end the 2018 season. The Spartans finished 24-28 overall and 10-11 in conference.
  • Florida International enjoyed a winning season last spring finishing 30-25 and 14-8 in conference. The Panthers fell to Conference USA foe Middle Tennessee in the opening game of the C-USA post-season tournament. Last season at the Felsberg Invitational, the Panthers went 2-4 on the weekend splitting with St. Johns and topping South Carolina.