Bulldogs top Canisius, fall to FAMU

Bryant splits Day 2 at USF Tournament 

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Freshman outfielder Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) blasted her first home run of her collegiate career and went 4-for-7 on the day, helping the Bryant University softball to a 7-3 victory over Canisius before the Bulldogs fell, 5-3, against Florida A&M on Saturday in the USF Tournament.

In game one against Canisius, with runners at first and second and one out, Velasquez launched a 1-0 pitch over the left field fence to give the Bulldogs (4-10) an early 3-0 lead, and the California native came up with a key throw out late in the game to preserve the Bryant lead to lead her squad in her biggest game yet donning the Black and Gold.

The Golden Griffins (4-16) nearly completed a comeback of their own in the bottom of the sixth. After scoring twice in the previous inning to cut the Bulldog lead to 4-3, Canisius mounted a two-out rally on a single and a fielder's choice to make it first-and-second for Lizzy Gatto against junior pitcher Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.).

Ahead in the count, 2-1, Gatto sent a single into left field, prompting some aggressive base running from designated player Michelle DelPrince, who reached on a two-out single. DelPrince was given the signal to round third, but her scoring chance was thwarted by a bullet of a throw from Velasquez in left, as the tying run was gunned down at the plate after a nifty grab-and-tag from sophomore catcher Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) to end the inning.

After nearly squandering the lead, the Bulldogs made sure not to let the win escape their grasp by producing four runs in the top of the seventh to secure the win.

Sophomore Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) and Velasquez singled in back-to-back plate appearances to start the inning, and Mable would come into score on a fielder's choice. Later in the inning, sophomore Amy Weinberg (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) put the game out of reach with a two-RBI single, and Canisius would not scratch any across in the bottom half of the inning, as Bryant gutted out its fourth win of the season.

A key Bryant run scored in the fourth after senior Lauren McCart (Voorhees, N.J.) got aboard on a fielder's error before moving to third on a sacrifice and a groundout. That set the stage for a big at-bat from sophomore Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.), and the designated player came through with an RBI base hit to center to give the Bulldogs a key fourth run that put them ahead, 4-1, at the time.

That lone run proved to be valuable, as the Golden Griffins capitalized on a pair of Bryant fielding miscues to score twice in the bottom of the fifth. But with a second-and-third, no-out situation on her plate, Jacob dug deep and retired three straight batters to limit Canisius' offense to just two runs during that inning, as the Bulldogs clung to a 4-3 lead before Velasquez denied the Golden Griffins against in the sixth with her throw out at the plate.

--

In the nightcap, Velasquez did not have to wait long to continue her career day, as the rookie drove in Bryant's first run of the game against FAMU on a deep double to left center that nearly left the yard. It was far enough, however, to bring home Guy, as the Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead over the Rattlers after the first.

But the Rattlers struck back in the top of the second after the lead batter reached on a walk. A sacrifice moved the runner over to second before Alyssa Weaver managed to single in a run to tie the game up at 1-all. Hart would limit the damage to just that one run, however, and worked her way out of the inning after that.

After a scoreless third, rookie catcher Karli Theleman (Lisle, N.Y.) became the second Bryant player to garner her first collegiate homer on Saturday, as the New Yorker smashed a two-run jack to left to push the Bulldogs ahead by a 3-1 advantage.

But the Rattlers responded in the top of the fifth, using a two-out rally to take a 4-3 lead. After Jasmin Donaldson beat out an infield single to lead off the inning, she moved to second on a sacrifice and stole third to put the pressure on Hart. After allowing a walk, Hart struck out a batter before walking another to load the bases. With two outs and the bases juiced, Kiefi Myrick doubled down the left field line to clear the bases and drive in three runs.

Down by a run, the Bulldogs could not scratch the tying run in either the fifth of sixth innings, as FAMU tacked on an insurance run in the seventh to make it 5-3. In the bottom of the seventh, Bryant had a chance to capitalize with a first-and-second, no-out situation, but the final three batters all went down in order as Bryant dropped the nightcap.

The Bulldogs wrap up their stint in the Sunshine State tomorrow morning against Coastal Carolina for a 9 a.m. showdown. Follow in-game action @BryantGameday on Twitter and be sure to follow the live stats of the game, as well.

For continuing coverage of Bryant University softball, check back online at www.bryantbulldogs.com; also follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.