BRYANT SOFTBALL TRAVELS TO FLORIDA FOR REBEL SPRING GAMES

Weekly Release No. 1

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With snow still covering much of Rhode Island, the Bryant University softball team will head south to Kissimmee, Fla. for the annual Rebel Spring Games. The Bulldogs (1-4) will depart March 5 for the six-day, 10-game trip and will face opponents from an array of conferences, including the Ivy League, Missouri Valley Conference, Atlantic-10 and Horizon League.

The Bulldogs are coming off a season-opening trip to the Texas Tech Invitational in Lubbock, Texas where Bryant opened the 2011 campaign with a thrilling 16-15 win over Utah Valley State. Despite the strong start to the weekend, the Bulldogs would fall against the host No. 21 Red Raiders three times in three days to round out the weekend.

Bryant, who posted a 1-6 mark in the 2010 Rebel Games, will kickoff this year's tournament with a 3 p.m. matchup against Detroit-Mercy on March 6. The Black and Gold knocked off the Titans, 6-3, as then-freshman Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) picked up the win after striking out five while only allowing one walk.

The Bulldogs will wrap up the first day of action against University of Pennsylvania at 5 p.m. Bryant was held to four hits in the 2010 meeting between the two programs, as the Bulldogs fell to the Quakers, 3-2.

Head coach Lisa-Ann Wallace and her squad will then take the field on Monday, March 7 for a doubleheader against Indiana State and Eastern Kentucky. The Bulldogs dropped a 3-1 decision to the Sycamores in last year's contest, despite outhitting the opposition 6-5. Senior pitcher Samantha Houseal (Mount Joy, Pa.) pitched 6.0 solid innings, only surrendering three earned runs and one walk. Eastern Kentucky and Bryant will be meeting for the first time in program history with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Bulldogs will than face a pair of Atlatnic-10 contenders in La Salle and Temple University on Tuesday, March 8, starting at 9:00 a.m. The Explorers knocked off Bryant, 5-3, a season ago in the Rebel Games, as the Bulldogs will look to avenge the loss.  Bryant wraps up the first part of the trip with a 1 p.m. showdown with the Owls, before the squad's first day off on Wednesday, March 9.

Live stats will not be available for the Rebel Games but fans can check game results at www.bryantbulldogs.com.