SOFTBALL FALLS TO UTAH VALLEY, 7-6, SATURDAY AFTERNOON

LUBBOCK, Texas – After opening the 2011 season with a victory over Utah Valley State in the first day of the Texas Tech Invitational Friday, the Bulldogs dropped a 7-6 decision to the Wolverines Saturday.

The Bulldogs (1-2) trailed 2-0 after one but came back strong in the top of the second, pushing across five runs to take a 5-2 lead.  Freshman Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) and junior Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) helped key the rally for the Bulldogs. 

But the Wolverines would begin to chip away, adding a run in the third and scoring four more later in the fourth inning off starter Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.) to regain the lead and held on from there.   

Trailing 7-5, the Bulldogs would scratch across another run in the top of the sixth to make it a one-run game but that would be as close as Bryant would get as Utah Valley State starter Josi Summers went the distance to earn her first victory of the season.

Bryant out-hit UVS 10-8 in the game with Guy leading the way with three hits on the day including a double and three RBIs.  Freshman Kristen Carter (Branchville, N.J.) was 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored while Bowen and Christina Eringis (Tewksbury, Mass.) each added a pair of hits. 

Pitcher Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) came on in relief of Jacob and did a solid job against the Wolverines as the sophomore held UVS without a hit and struck out one in 1 2/3 innings of work.

Bryant will take on Texas Tech later on Saturday before closing out the tourney with single game against the Red Raiders on Sunday at 3 p.m.