Bryant edged by BU, despite early lead

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite recording eight hits and five runs over the first three innings, the Bryant University softball team could not hold on to a four-run lead, as the Bulldogs fell, 6-5, against Boston University on the road Thursday afternoon.

Leading by as many as four runs heading into the bottom of the third, Bryant (17-15) could not contain Boston's (21-12) bats, as the home side posted five runs in two innings for the one-run lead.

Senior Samantha Houseal (Mount Joy, Pa.) got the start for the Bulldogs and tossed three innings, allowing two earned runs and one walk before giving way to Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) in the fourth. Both Houseal and her counterpart Holli Floetker got tagged with five runs a piece, while Hart moved to 7-7 on the season with the loss.

The Bulldogs would jump out to an early 1-0 lead behind the bat of freshman Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.), who drove in the game's first run on a single to right field. The single run would be all the Bulldogs would, stranding two runners to end the frame.

The host Terriers would respond in the bottom half after BU record holder April Setterlund converted on a one-out single up the middle of the diamond, tying the score at 1-1.

The offensive output carried over to the second inning for the Black and Gold, as Lauren McCart (Voorhees, N.J.) led off with a single to centerfield. Lindsay Martin (Methuen, Mass.) would then push McCart over with a single of her own to left field and both runners would advance courtesy of a sacrifice bunt by Regina Burdo (Wayne, Pa.). Laura Bowen would then load the bases with a walk and set up Mable for her league-leading 11^th double of the season, bringing home two runs. Amy Weinberg (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) would then chip in with a sacrifice bunt, allowing Bowen to cross home plate for the 4-1 lead.

The visiting Bulldogs would add their final run of the game in the top of the third off the bat of Martin, who brought home McCart on a sacrifice fly to left field.

BU would surge back in the bottom half of the frame with three runs of their own on two hits and two errors. April Setterlund would record her second and third RBIs of the outing in the third on a double to centerfield. Setterlund would eventually cross home plate, pulling the Terriers within one, 5-4, at the end of three.

The home side would pull ahead in the next inning courtesy of a two-run homer by the Terriers' second baseman for the 6-5 lead, and that is all the BU pitching staff would need to hold on for the one-run win.

With the loss, Bryant moves to 6-5 in games played on the road and 10-12 against non-league opponents.

The Bulldogs return to action this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders against Mount St. Mary's and Monmouth. Bryant will take on the Mount Saturday, April 16 in Emmittsburg, Md. First pitch of the twinbill is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., and fans can follow live stats at www.bryantbulldogs.com.