Bulldogs drop both in day two

MIAMI, FLA. – After several rain delays, the Bryant University softball team dropped both games today to Connecticut and Michigan State.

Junior Tiffany Bell (Egg Harbor City, N.J.) led the Bulldogs batting 3-5 for the day while Sarah McKeveny (Bohemia, N.Y.) tied her career-best with six strikeouts against Michigan State in game 2. 

GAME INFORMATION
UConn 3, Bryant 0
Michigan State 3, Bryant 0
Location: Felsberg Field at the FIU Softball Stadium (Miami, Fla.)
W|L|S (Gm 1): Olson (1-0) | Gabrielle Ermish (0-1)
W|L|S (Gm 2): Walker (1-0)

COACH FRENCH'S COMMENTS
"Overall today was a lot better than yesterday, and Gabi and Sarah pitched really well," said head coach Nick French. "The rain delay hurt our momentum a little in the first game but overall for nine hours at the ballpark, I thought we played with a lot of passion and energy right to the end."

KEY MOMENT (GM1)

• After the first rain delay, UConn put runners on first and third before hitting a double that brought in two runs that gave the Huskies the only lead they needed.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM1)

• Bryant did not allow Connecticut to get a hit for the first three innings before the clouds opened up and both teams evacuated the field for a rain delay.
• After the delay, the Huskies started finding gaps in the field to get on base. UConn first got on base with a single stealing second and advancing to third. With runners on first and third, Kern hit a double to bring in two runs.
• The Huskies put a runner on third after a ground ball advanced Kern to third base. McDaniel hit a ball into the outfield for a single bringing Kern home for the final run of the game.

STATS (GM1)

• Junior Gabrielle Ermish (Pottstown, Pa.) pitched all seven innings striking out two batters allowing just five hits.
• Bell went 2-3 at the plate. Jessica Gradillas (Nogales, Ariz.) was the only other Bulldog to tally a hit as Gradillas batted 1-3

KEY MOMENT (GM2)

• A double to left field brought in a runner for Michigan State in the bottom of the third. The run gave the Spartans the only offense that they would need.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM2)

• To start the bottom of the third, Michigan State reached first base before stealing second. The Spartans then hit a double to left field bringing in the first run of the game.
• With runners on second and third and one out, the Spartans singled up the middle to bring both runners home.
• The game was called after the top of the fifth due to rain. 

STATS (GM2)

• Bell provided the only hit for the Bulldogs batting 1-2.
• McKeveny pitched all four innings before the rain started coming down. McKeveny struck out six batters, allowed four hits, and walked three.

GAME NOTES

• Bryant falls to 0-12 against UConn all-time and 0-1 to Michigan State.
• McKeveny tied her career-best with six strikeouts. The last time McKeveny recorded six strikeouts was last season at Robert Morris.

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs close out the Felsberg Invitational tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. as the play host Florida International.