Going, going, gone! Bryant sweeps CCSU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Rookie Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.), Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.), Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) and Lindsay Martin (Methuen, Mass.) each went yard at least once, as the Bryant University softball team touched up the Central Connecticut State University pitching staff for 18 runs on the day, taking down the Blue Devils, 9-7 and 9-5, in the Saturday Northeast Conference twinbill.  

Bryant (25-16, 14-4 Northeast Conference) knocked off Central Connecticut (20-17, 7-7) twice despite outhitting the home side by just one. The Bulldogs moved to 4-2 all-time against the NEC rival with the Saturday sweep as the visitors took their fifth game in the past five outings.

Guy extended her current hitting streak to six in the early contest, leading off with a single through the left side of the infield. Mable and Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) loaded the bases with a walk and single, respectively, before Kate Murray (Fitchburg, Mass.) brought both Mable and Guy home after reaching on an error by the Blue Devils infield for the 2-0 lead.

Bryant would pad its lead in the ensuing inning, with Regina Burdo (Wayne, Pa.) on first and no outs, Guy stepped into the batter's box and cranked a two-run long ball over the right field fence. For the second time this season, Bowen would make it back-to-back homers with a solo knock to left center for the 5-0 edge after two innings.

After dealing three strikeouts through the first two, starting pitcher Samantha Houseal (Mount Joy, Pa.) (13-7) was tagged with a run in the bottom of the third. CCSU's Taylor Bruno recorded a RBI double to right field, cutting the Bryant lead to 5-1.

The Bulldogs would distant themselves once again in the top of the fifth, as Burdo reached base on balls before Guy and Bowen recorded base hits to load them. With ducks on the pond, Mable would crank a grand slam over the fence down the left field line, picking up four RBIs to lift Bryant to a 9-1 advantage.

Central Connecticut would respond with a run in the bottom half off a RBI single by Sours, which would negate the eight-run mercy rule, giving the Blue Devils a chance to comeback. CCSU added a run in the bottom of the sixth before threatening the Bulldogs with four runs on six hits in the bottom of the seventh, to cut the lead to two runs.

With the bases loaded and two outs already recorded, Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) entered the game and struck out Blue Devil slugger Amanda Dilworth to secure the 9-7 Bryant victory.

The offensive output carried over into the second outing, as Bowen got things started with a solo home run in the bottom of the first to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

After Weinberg reached on a fielding error, Corder would walk, and Weinberg would eventually come across off a single by Murray. Murray and Corder would then touch home plate when Martin took first then second on a error by the Blue Devils' right fielder for the 4-0 Bulldog lead.

The Bulldogs would continue to spray the ball over the diamond in the second and third with two runs in each frame. Weinberg got things started when she plated Bowen on a single to right field. Moments later, Mable showed her speed and stole home.

Murray would lead off the third with a base knock down the left field line and would be brought home when Martin jacked a long ball over the wall in right center, putting the Bulldogs up 8-0.

In the circle, Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.) engineered an efficient outing, allowing two hits through the first three but would get touched up in the fourth when Central Connecticut stormed back with four runs on one hits and two errors.  Despite the surge, Jacob (4-2) was able to get out of the jam by forcing a pop out to Bowen to end the inning.

Mable would add an RBI single right back to the circle in the top of the sixth after Burdo had reached on a single to the third baseman.

CCSU's Dilworth would chip in with a RBI single in the bottom half of the sixth, but that is as close the Blue Devils would get.

Jacob finished the outing with five strikeouts in six innings while Murray (2-for-3) and Mable (2-for-4) combined for three RBIs.

In total, Four different Bulldogs recorded a home run in the 18-run performance Saturday against Central Connecticut. The Bulldogs left just 12 runners on base in two outings and notched five extra base hits.

Mable finished the day with a team-best six RBIs, while Guy and Bowen each accounted for two.

The Bulldogs look to continue their win streak Wednesday afternoon when the team travels to Big East contender Connecticut. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m., and fans can follow live stats at www.bryantbulldogs.com.