Softball's Sweep of Bentley Matches Best NE-10 Record in Program History; Bulldogs Enter NE-10 Tournament as #2 Seed Saturday
Bryant Matches Best NE-10 Record in School History With Sweep of Bentley
April 30, 2008 St. Anselm Box / Bentley Game 1 Box / Bentley Game 2 Box
Waltham, Mass.- On a day with three scheduled games for the Bulldogs, Bryant dropped a 8-7 decision to Saint Anselm in 11 innings. Immediately following the game, the Bulldogs began a two game set with Bentley and won the first game 10-0 and the second 8-6 to finish the NE-10 season 23-5.
In the game with Saint Anselm, the Hawks scored the winning run in the eleventh on an error that scored Nicole Baginski. The loss went to Janine Enos (Wareham, Mass.)
The Bulldogs erupted for ten runs in the opener against Bentley. The offensive charge was led by Ali Chouinard (Swansea, Mass.) who was 5 for 5 with 5 RBI. Her 2-RBI double got the scoring started in the third and her three-run home run in the top of the seventh put the game on ice for the Bulldogs.
Kim Breton (Leominster, Mass.) was 2 for 3 with three runs scored. Enos (16-5) rebounded for the win going seven shutout innings and striking out eight Falcons.
In the second game with Bentley, the Bulldogs struck first when Jennifer Serrano (Stoneham, Mass.) scored an unearned run on an error by the second baseman. The Falcons would score the next three runs of the game with one in the first and two in the second off Bryant starter Samantha Houseal (Mount Joy, PA).
The Bulldogs would draw even when back to back RBI singles by Kate Thomas (Bedford, Mass.) and Ashley Coon (Levittown, PA) brought in two runs. Thomas would come in with the go-ahead run two innings later after doubling and scoring on a wild pitch.
The Bulldogs appeared to put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh when three Falcon errors opened the door for four unearned Bulldog runs to give Bryant an 8-3 lead. However, fighting for their postseason lives, the Falcons rallied in the bottom of the frame.
With two errors of their own opening the door (the teams combined for ten in the game), the Falcons pushed accross three runs of their own. But Houseal (10-7) was able to close the door and give the Bulldogs the win. The loss for Bentley means they must play regular season conference champion Le Moyne tomorrow, needing a win to make the NE-10 tournament.
The Bulldogs move to the NE-10 tournament with a 23-5 record, the same as the 2006 team that would win the NE-10 regular season and tournament championships. The Bulldogs will enter postseason as the #2 seed in the NE-10 and will play their first game Saturday at 9am in Syracuse, NY.