Softball outslugs Hawks en route to sweep

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Rookie Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.)went a combined 4-for-8 with two runs and three RBIs, as the Bryant University softball team picked up two signature wins over Monmouth University, 12-7, and, 3-2, Sunday afternoon in West Long Branch, N.J.

The Bulldogs (19-15, 9-3 NEC) sweep over Monmouth (15-18, 6-8 NEC) marks the first time Bryant has ever beaten the Hawks, and the team has now gone 8-5 in road games this season.

Bryant outhit the Hawks by a combined 21-18 margin and commited one less error than home side, but stranded 12 baserunners on the day.

Senior Samantha Houseal (Mount Joy, Pa.) got the nod for Bryant in the early contest, as the visiting Bulldogs would jump out to an early 2-0 lead as Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) reached base via a walk then stole second before moving over to third on a hit by Amy Weinberg (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.). Mable and Weinberg would then both score on a throwing error by the Monmouth catcher after Corder reached first on a fielder's choice for the 2-0 edge.

The home side would respond in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly by Emily Delong, cutting the Bryant lead to 2-1. But the Bulldogs would continue to spray the ball over the diamond in the top of the second, as Kate Murray (Fitchburg, Mass.) got things started with a single down the left field line. Murray would come across home courtesy of a RBI double to right center by Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.). With two on and one out, Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) would step into the batter's box and deliver a two-run double to left centerfield. Bryant would add one more in the inning, as Mable reached on a fielding error by Monmouth, allowing Bowen to score and giving the visitors a 6-1 edge after two.

Houseal would retire the side in the second but then get tagged with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the third, as the Hawks began to compose a comeback. The hosts would add one more in the bottom of the fourth off the bat of Delong, who reached on a fielding error, allowing the base runner to score and cut the Bulldogs lead to 6-5.

After allowing Monmouth to claw within one, Lindsay Martin (Methuen, Mass.) helped pad the lead for the Bulldogs with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth to deep center, allowing Kristen Carter (Branchville, N.J.) to touch home.

Both teams would continue to put up runs in the six, with Bryant plating three on three hits and Monmouth posting two scores on three hits.

Holding a 10-7 edge entering the seventh, Regina Burdo (Wayne, Pa.) and Guy would both come across for two insurance runs on two hits, as the Black and Gold were able to hold on for the 12-7 win. The W marked the first victory for Bryant in the past five outings as Houseal moved to 10-6 on the season with her 12th complete game, registering two strikeouts.

At the plate, eight different Bulldogs recorded a hit, including three-multi hit performances.

Unlike the first game, pitching was the story in the late contest, as Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.) threw a season-best nine strikeouts in the Bulldogs' 3-2 extra inning victory.

The Hawks would go up, 1-0, in the second inning, as the home side mustered three hits in the frame, and the visitors would be held off the board until the top of the fourth when Mable started a Bryant rally with a single up the middle. Mable would advance to second on a fielding error during Weinberg's at bat and made her way home on a RBI double by Corder. With two in scoring position, Murray would pick up her first RBI on the day in the form of a single through the left side, plating Weinberg for the 2-1 lead.

Monmouth would respond in the bottom of the fifth with a run of its own, tying the score at 2-2.

Jacob would continue to find her groove in the circle for the Black and Gold, retiring the side in the sixth and seventh, giving the Bulldogs an opportunity to take the upper hand in extra innings, a chance on which Bryant would capitalize.

In the top of the eighth, Mable would reach first with two outs on an error by the third baseman and make her way to second on a Weinberg single to left field. Corder would then step to the plate and deliver the eventual game-winning hit on a single through the right side for the 3-2 lead.

Jacob would close the door on the Hawks in the bottom half of the frame, hurling a strikeout and forcing two groundouts to give the Bulldogs the one-run victory and the sweep.

With the win, Jacob moves to 2-2 on the season in four starts and 2-0 in April.

Sunday's victories mark the fourth sweep this season for the Bulldogs as the squad moves to 9-3 in league play. Now sitting at 19-15 overall, Bryant has matched its win total from 2009 and 2010 combined and has doubled the number of conference wins from a season ago.

The Bulldogs will remain on the road and travel down to Mount St. Mary's for a Monday matchup, postponed from Saturday. First pitch of the twinbill is scheduled for 12 p.m., and fans can follow live stats at www.bryantbulldogs.com.