Jacob delivers as Bryant upsets BC, 6-3

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, senior slinger Samantha Houseal (Mount Joy, Pa.) fought off Boston College's Maria Pondolfo for 16 pitches before giving way to Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.), who dealt a changeup in her first pitch for the game-ending strikeout, as the Bryant University softball team trumped Boston College, 6-3, Wednesday afternoon in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The Bulldogs (21-16, 10-4 Northeast Conference) outhit the Eagles (11-23, 5-8 Atlantic Coast Conference), 12-7, en route to picking up the program's first-ever win over a BCS conference opponent. With the victory, Bryant has now won four out of the last five and moves to 1-2 all-time against the Eagles.

Houseal took the mound for the Black and Gold and allowed one earned run in 6.2 innings of work while dealing two Ks, and received solid run support when the Bulldogs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the of the first.

 Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) led off with a single to second base and moved over into scoring position courtesy of a sacrifice bunt by Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.). One wild pitch later, Aurbey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) knocked a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing home Guy to break the seal.

The home side would respond in the bottom half to tie the score, 1-1, recording one hit and utilizing two errors to push across their first run of the game.

Reigning Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) would reach base on balls to start the second inning and make her way to second after Lindsay Martin (Meutheun, Mass.) laid down a textbook sacrifice bunt. The California native would reach third on a single by Kate Murray (Fitchburg, Mass.) before Regina Burdo (Wayne, Pa.) brought her home on a single through the left side for the go-ahead run.

The visitors would then proceed to pad their lead with two runs on four hits over the next two innings. Mable connected on a one-out single to centerfield and the next batter, Amy Weinberg (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.), would drive her home on a double to right center for the 3-1 edge.

Houseal would continue to contain the Eagles lineup, allowing just two hits through the first five.

Lauren McCart (Voorhees, N.J.) would go yard for the second time this season over the left field wall in the top of the fourth for the 4-1 advantage.

After retiring the side in the fifth, Houseal would load the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning after issuing two walks and a fielder's choice. The Pennsylvania native would pull herself out of the jam by forcing a grounder to the mound, before making the force out at home and allowing Corder to catch the batter heading to first for the rally-ending double play.

The Bulldogs would add a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh, as Corder picked up her second hit and first RBI on the day in the form of a single to centerfield. Martin would chip in with a RBI after she was thrown out at first on an infield hit.

Despite the five-run deficit, the Eagles would storm back in the bottom of the frame, recording two singles to start the surge. With a runner on second and one on third, Brittany Wilkins produced her first RBI on the day in a one-out single through the right side. The home side would place a runner on first after getting hit by pitch and eventually scratch across another run on a fielding error by the Bulldog defense. Holding onto a three-run lead, Houseal would hurl 16 pitches in Pandolfo's bases-juiced, two-out at bat, but it would take Jacob's changeup to freeze the centerfielder for the game-ending backwards K.

Seven different Bulldogs recorded a hit with Mable's 3-for-3 performance highlighting the signature win. In dramatic fashion, Jacob picked up her second save on the season as Houseal moved to 11-7 on the year.

The Bulldogs return to Northeast Conference action Friday, April 22 on the road at Long Island University. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., and fans can follow live stats at www.bryantbulldogs.com.