Bryant puts scare into No. 2 Oklahoma on Opening Day

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Bryant University softball team was tied in the fourth inning with the No. 2 team in the nation, but Oklahoma outlasted the Bulldogs to conclude the opening day of the 2020 season at the Hillenbrand Invitational.

The Bulldogs were defeated by Long Beach State, 10-0, in the season opener before an 8-3 defeat against the Sooners, who played for the National Championship in 2019.

Game Information
Game 1: Long Beach State 10, Bryant 0
Game 2: No. 2 Oklahoma 8, Bryant 3
Location: Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium (Tucson, Ariz.)
W|L|S (Gm 1): Presley Miraglia (1-0) | Gabrielle Ermish (0-1)
W|L|S (Gm 2): Macy McAdoo (3-0) | Sarah McKeveny (0-1) | Shannon Saile (3)

Coach French's Comments
"I am extremely proud of our kids today. To be tied with Oklahoma in the middle innings is an accomplishment. The difference in the game was they hit a couple home runs and we didn't. Overall on the day we had base runners on in almost every inning and put a lot of pressure on the opponents. We competed and didn't back down from a couple of historic softball powers it's a good sign of our future. 

Key Moment vs. Long Beach State

• Long Beach State hit a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning to take a 6-0 lead.

How It Happened vs. Long Beach State

• In the top of the third inning, Long Beach State hit a sac fly to score the first run of the game.
• The Sharks singled to center field making the score 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning.
• Then Long Beach State hit a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning.
• In the top of the sixth inning, LBSU hit a single to right to advance the lead to 7-0.
• Long Beach State ended the game scoring three more runs in the seventh inning to make it 10-0.

Stats vs. Long Beach State

• Junior Morgan Powell (Murrieta, Calif.) led the way with two hits to start the season.
• Sophomore Toni Camarillo (Corona, Calif.), senior Marianna Politis (Arcadia, Calif.), freshman Aleix Hudson (Lawrenceville, Ga.), and junior Alexandra Hickey (St. John, Ind.) all had hits for the Bulldogs.
• Senior Gabrielle Ermish (Pottstown, Pa.) had three strikeouts and freshman Kylie Kenney (Jamison, Pa.) struck out two.

Key Moment vs. Oklahoma

• Oklahoma hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to break the 3-3 tie with the Bulldogs.

How it Happened vs. Oklahoma

• Camarillo scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch after reaching base on a single and then advancing to third on a passed ball and groundout.
• Oklahoma responded by scoring three runs to take the lead in the first inning 3-1.
• The Bulldogs scored two runs in the third after they loaded the bases on back to back singles and a walk, which tied the game at 3.
• The Sooners hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to take a 5-3 lead.
• Oklahoma followed that up with another home run in the fifth to make it a 6-3 game.
• Jocelyn Alo hit her second two-run home run of the game to give the Sooners an 8-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

Stats vs. Oklahoma

• Camarillo and senior Tiffany Bell (Egg Harbor City, N.J.) both had multi-hit games against Oklahoma.
• Sophomore Carlyn Hernandez (Cypress, Calif.) and Hudson each had a hit and an RBI.
• Junior Sarah McKeveny (Bohemia, N.Y.) struck out one Oklahoma batter.

Game Notes

• Bryant has now lost both meetings against Oklahoma in their program's history.

Next Up

The Bulldogs will face Northern Iowa at 11:00 a.m. and No. 5 Arizona at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Hillenbrand Invitational.