Bulldogs split Day 1 action at Rebel Games

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University kicked off the 2011 Rebel Spring Games with a split in the first day of action, as the Bulldogs (2-5) started the week-long trip with a win over Detroit-Mercy but were not successful in completing the Sunday sweep, as the team fell to Penn in the late game.

For the second-straight season the Bulldogs opened the Rebel Spring Games with a victory over the Titans, this time blanking the opposition, 2-0.

Despite the strong start to trip, Bryant dropped a 7-4 decision to the University of Pennsylvania (1-1) in the late game. The Bulldogs were outhit, 12-5, in the outing as the Quakers wasted no time getting on the board, putting up three runs in the top of the first inning on four hits.

Bryant would claw its way back into the game in the bottom of the second inning with two runs of its own. Catcher Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) kick started the offense with a double to centerfield, her first of the season, to lead off the second. The California native would advance to third on an Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) fly ball to right field, and cross home plate after senior third basemen Regina Burdo (Wayne, Pa.) layed down a bunt to cut the lead, 3-1.

Lindsay Martin (Methuen, Mass.) took advantage of the one on and one out with a single up the middle, moving Burdo over to third. A sacrifice bunt by Lauren McCart (Voorhees, N.J.) would bring Burdo home, narrowing the gap to one at the end of the two.

With the Quakers leading, 3-2, sophomore Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) would relieve Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.) in the top half of the third inning just as Penn answered the Bryant rally with a highly efficient two-hit, two-run inning, expanding its lead to three, 5-2.

After a scoreless fourth frame, Penn would pad its lead with two more runs in the top of the fifth. Down by five with nine outs left, Martin would reach base on an error by the catcher setting up a no-out single by McCart. With runners on the corners, Penn would throw a wild pitch, allowing Martin to take home and McCart over to third. Another passed ball brought home McCart, cutting the lead to three, but that is as close as the Bulldogs would get after going scoreless in the final two innings.

Jacob was tagged with her second loss of the season after going 2.0 innings with four earned runs and one walk. Corder led the Bulldogs with two hits while Burdo, McCart, Martin each recorded one.

 The Bulldogs will resume play in the Spring Rebel Games Monday, March 7 with a doubleheader against Indiana State (9:00 a.m.) and Eastern Kentucky (1:00 p.m.).