Bowen lifts Bryant to 11th-straight win

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With two runners on and two outs in the top of the fifth inning, junior Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) executed a textbook hit and run to bring home the eventual game-winning score, as the Bryant University softball team defeated Brown University, 2-1, Thursday afternoon in Providence, R.I.

Thursday's one-run victory marked the 11^th-straight game the Bulldogs have won and their 14^th in the last 15 outings. The Bulldogs (16-11, 6-0 NEC) have now beaten Brown (7-11-1) twice in the last three head-to-head contests and remain unbeaten in the month of April (4-0).

Senior Samantha Houseal (Mount Joy, Pa.) dissected the Brown lineup all afternoon, as the Pennsylvania native dealt two strikeouts and issued just seven hits en route to her eighth win of the season. Houseal tossed her ninth complete game of the year, while her counterpart Krisit Chin duplicated her performance, allowing seven hits over 7.0 innings.

Despite recording seven hits, the Bulldogs were held scoreless through the first four, mustering one hit against Chin. Freshman Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.)led the game off with a triple to center field, but was left there stranded to end the inning.

The Bears moved out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third after an error by the Bulldogs infield allowed Jen Kries to cross home plate.

Despite facing a one-run deficit, the visitors' bats came alive in the top of the fifth. Lauren McCart (Voorhees, N.J.) got things started for the Black and Gold with a single to left field. Following a pop out by Murray to right field, freshman first baseman Amy Weinberg (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) punched a single through the right side of the diamond to reach first base, moving McCart into scoring position. Senior Regina Burdo (Wayne, Pa.) would continue the surge for the Bulldogs, hitting another single up the middle, her 18^th hit of the season . With ducks on the pond, Guy recorded her eighth RBI on the year in the form of a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing home the tying run.

Bowen would then step into the batter's box and deliver the biggest hit of the afternoon with a single right back up the middle, bringing home Weinberg for the go-ahead score.

Up, 2-1, Houseal continued to keep the hosts off the scoreboard over the final three innings for the victory.

Seven different Bulldogs registered a hit while Guy and Bowen accounted for both RBIs.

The Bulldogs look to continue their winning ways Saturday, April 9 at home against Northeast Conference foe Robert Morris. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1:00 p.m.and fans can watch all the action live at www.bryantbulldogs.tv.