BULLDOGS POWER PAST UTAH VALLEY IN SEASON OPENER, SPLIT OPENING DAY AT TEXAS TECH INVITATIONAL

Bryant vs. Utah Valley Boxscore

Bryant vs. No. 21 Texas Tech Boxscore

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University softball team kicked off its 2011 campaign with a split at the Texas Tech Invitational in Lubbock, Texas Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs opened up the season with an offensive display, defeating Utah Valley University in walk-off fashion, but were not able to carry over the fire power as the squad fell to No. 21 Texas Tech University in the late game.

The Bulldogs (1-1, 0-0 Northeast Conference) picked up their first win of the season relying heavily on their bats, putting up a remarkable six runs in a late-game rally to give Bryant a 16-15 win.

After surrendering four innings in the top half of the first frame, Bryant answered with three runs of its own as Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) got things started with a single to centerfield. Junior second basemen Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) would reach first on a walk, setting up freshman Amy Weinberg's (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) first collegiate home run, cutting the lead to 4-3 at the end of one.

The Bulldogs would add two more runs in the second, as co-captain Bowen belted a two-run home run over the wall in right-center, giving Bryant a short-lived 5-4 lead. The Wolverines (0-5, 0-0 Great West) would come storming back in the top-half of the next inning though, rattling off four runs, including two unearned after generating five hits.

To no avail, Bryant would muster together a rally of its own, as rookie Taylor Bell (Yorktown Hieghts, N.Y.) ignited a pivotal inning for the Black and Gold. Bell would reach base on a walk before fellow classmate Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) singled to right field to put runners on first and second with only one out. Bryant would load the bases after a Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) walk, setting up a Kristen Carter (Branchville, N.J.) double to left field, bringing in three Bulldogs to highlight a five-run third inning.

The Wolverines would answer right back with four runs in the top of the fifth, as Utah Valley's Amanda Perez belted a grand slam, her second dinger of the game, to give the visiting side a 13-10 edge. Utah Valley would go on to add two more runs for insurance in the top of the seventh.

Down by five, Bryant engineered a six-run inning, as Lindsay Martin (Methuen, Mass.) delivered the knockout blow in the final frame, doubling home two runs to give the Bulldogs the 16-15 victory.

Sophomore Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) picked up her first W of the 2011 campaign, pitching 6.0 innings while striking out three batters.

Weinberg paced the Bulldogs with four RBIs while Bowen, Guy and Martin each picked up two, respectively. Seven different players registered a hit in the offensive explosion, as Bryant totaled 12 hits in the outing.

In the second game against No. 21 Texas Tech, Bryant would not see the same offensive production, as the Bulldogs were held scoreless and fell 10-0 to the host Red Raiders (7-0, 0-0 BIG 12) in five innings of play.

Senior Regina Burdo (Wayne, Pa.) and Carter were the only two Bulldogs to record a hit, as Bryant left four runners on base throughout the contest.

Senior Samantha Houseal (Mount Joy, Pa.) pitched 4.0 innings, striking out two batters while her counterpart Ashley Brokeshoulder of Texas Tech pitched five scoreless innings for the nationally ranked Red Raiders.

The Bulldogs will resume play at the Invitational Saturday afternoon for a 12:00 p.m.(EST) matchup with Utah Valley.