Softball takes down Harvard 15-6

Velasquez Postgame Comments

Nine-run frame propels Bryant over Harvard, 15-6

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Bolstered by a nine-run fifth inning that helped erase a two-score deficit, the Bryant University softball team capitalized on 13 walks issued by the home side Harvard en route to a 15-6 victory over the Crimson on a blustery and cold Tuesday afternoon at Soldiers Field.

The Bulldogs (6-14) took an early lead but fell behind by a 3-1 margin before taking advantage of the Crimson's (12-7) shaky pitching in the fifth inning and beyond. Both the frigid climate and excessive winds were factors all game long, as Harvard's three pitchers combined for 13 free passes and three hit batsmen despite surrendering just seven hits on the day.

Junior Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.) was strong enough to secure her fourth victory of the season, as the hurler went seven innings while allowing five earned runs and four walks against 28 batters.

Both teams mustered just 13 hits combined while committing three errors apiece.

The Black and Gold offense saw strong days from freshman Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) and sophomore Taylor Bell (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.), as both combined for five of Bryant's seven hits on the day. The rookie outfielder continued her recent string of strong play with a 3-for-4 outing at the dish and also drove in a run and scored twice. Bell, meanwhile, came up with a pair of clutch RBI base hits while finishing 2-for-3 with a run scored.

After sophomore Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) drew a leadoff walk to start the contest, the sophomore moved to third on a pair of wild pitches to set up Velasquez for a scoring opportunity. The rookie outfielder came through with a two-out, RBI single to give the visitors a 1-0 lead after the top of the first.

But the home side answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to go up by a 2-1 margin. After loading the bases, Jacob found temporary reprieve by inducing a groundball to force the runner out at home. But in the next at-bat, Jane Alexander and Camilla Gibson scored on a two-error play to give the Crimson the lead.

The Bulldogs looked to pounce right back in the top of the fourth, as Velasquez ripped a leadoff double to start the inning.  Back-to-back walks loaded the bases with one out, but Harvard starting pitcher Rachel Brown got out of the jam by retiring the next two batters.

Harvard padded its lead with one more run in the home half of the fourth to take a 3-1 edge, as Katherine Lantz drove in a run for the Crimson on a fielder's choice. But the Bulldogs struck for nine runs in the top of the fifth to put the game out of reach.

After Brown walked in a run with the bases loaded, Bell connected with a one-out RBI single to right field to tie the game before two consecutive bases-loaded walks pushed the Bulldogs ahead by two runs.

Senior Lauren McCart (Voorhees, N.J.) kept the run parade going with a single down the right field line to drive in another before Guy sacrificed another run home to push the lead to 7-3. After sophomore Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Velasquez reached on an error that allowed two more runs to score. When all was said and done, the Bulldogs had taken a 10-3 lead entering the bottom of the fifth.

Following a scoreless frame, the Bulldogs put Harvard on the edge of a mercy-rule loss by means of a three-run top of the sixth inning, but the Crimson responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to keep the game going. The Bulldogs added two more runs for good measure in the top of the seventh before Jacob retired the side in order to end the match.

The Bulldogs open conference play this weekend against a pair of NEC foes. First up, Bryant welcomes Mount St. Mary's for a doubleheader showdown on Saturday (March 31) before facing LIU Brooklyn on Sunday for another two games.

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