BULLDOGS BATTLE BUT FALL SHORT IN BOTH GAMES TUESDAY
March 09, 2010
BULLDOGS BATTLE BUT FALL SHORT IN BOTH GAMES TUESDAY
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University softball team played hard in both matchups Tuesday in Orlando, but fell just short in each as they dropped both games of the doubleheader by a combined total of three runs at the annual Rebel Spring Games.
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Freshman Kate Murray was |
Bryant (1-10) opened day three of the Rebel Spring Games with a matchup against the Ivy League affiliate, University of Pennsylvania (2-4) at 9 a.m. The Bulldogs got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning. Third baseman Regina Burdo (Wayne, Pa.) got the action started with a single through the left side of the infield in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) reached base on a throwing error by the Quakers’ second baseman and was able to advance to second base. Burdo moved over to third on the error. Freshman outfielder Kate Murray (Fitchburg, Mass.) hit a double to center field in the next at-bat to plate both Burdo and Bowen and give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead after three innings of play.
It didn’t take long for the Quakers to respond as they got both runs back in the top of the fourth. Penn’s catcher Alisha Prystowsky led off the inning with a single through the left side and scored on a triple in the next Penn at bat. Freshman pitcher Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) struck out the next batter but gave up a single to the next batter to tie the game at two apiece.
Penn picked up one run in the top of the sixth to make it 3-2
and held the Bulldogs scoreless over the final two frames to earn
its second win of the 2010 season.
Hart pitched a complete game, allowing three earned runs and
striking out seven.
Murray, Burdo, tri-captain Ashley Coon (Levittown, Pa.) and freshman Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.) had one hit apiece for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs played Atlantic-10 member, La Salle University (1-1), in the second game of doubleheader action Tuesday. The Explorers jumped out to the early 1-0 lead over the Bulldogs after two innings of play.
Bryant took the lead in the top of the third inning as sophomore Lindsay Martin (Methuen, Mass.) led off the frame with a single. Burdo laid down a successful sacrifice bunt in the next Bryant at-bat, which moved Martin into scoring position. Bowen followed Burdo with a single to put runners on the corners with freshman Kate Murray coming up next. Murray was able to get a bat on the ball and double for the Black and Gold, plating both base runners and giving BU the 2-1 advantage. Murray was 1-3 with two RBIs.
The Explorers responded quickly with one run in the bottom of the frame to tie things up at 2 apiece.
The Bulldogs retook the lead in the top of the fifth inning when freshman Christina Eringis (Tewksbury, Mass.) led off the inning with her first career home run. The team’s first home run of the 2010 season gave them a 3-2 lead over La Salle. Eringis was 1-2 on the day.
The Explorers got to starting pitcher Sami Houseal (Mount Joy, Pa.) in the fifth inning and tallied three runs to take a 5-3 lead. The Bulldogs brought in Cocco to finish things off. The freshman threw 2.2 scoreless innings but Bryant could not find any more magic in their bats and were unable to get back on the scoreboard again as they fell 5-3 in the second game of the doubleheader Tuesday.
The squad has Wednesday off and will continue the Rebel Games on Thursday with a doubleheader starting at 9 a.m. The Bulldogs play Indiana State in first game and Youngstown State in the latter.