Bulldogs split with Mount in NEC action

Bulldogs split NEC doubleheader vs. Mount St. Mary's Saturday afternoon

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University softball team opened Northeast Conference action on Saturday afternoon with a split against Mount St. Mary's, as the Bulldogs used a three-run, first-inning surge and held on late to take the second game, 5-2, after falling in extra innings by a 12-5 margin earlier in the afternoon.

With the split, the Bulldogs move to 7-15 on the year with an even 1-1 mark in league play, while the Mountaineers fall to 8-21 and 2-4 in the conference.

The bats were potent for both teams all afternoon long, as the Bulldogs combined for 17 hits on the day while the Mount tacked on 11 hits in the opener before being limited to just four hits in the evening game.

Bryant totaled five extra-base hits over the course of the day, as junior Christina Eringis (Tewksbury, Mass.) went yard for the third time this season to boost the home side in Game 2, while sophomore Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) and senior Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) also tallied homers in the first game.

Junior hurler Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) picked up her third win of the season on the mound after tossing six solid innings in the late game. The junior scattered four hits while yielding two runs and two walks while fanning three batters.

After falling behind by a run to start Game 2, the Bulldogs jumped on top with three runs in the bottom of the first inning, as Eringis plated a pair with a two-run homer to center field to give the home team a 3-1 advantage. The blast also scored freshman Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.), who tied the game at 1-all on an RBI single through the left side to score Mable.

Bryant responded with two more runs in the bottom of the third to pad the lead to 5-1. Sophomore Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) led off the inning with a base hit and moved to third on a sacrifice, and Mable brought her home with a triple to right center. Velasquez proved her worth again in the following at-bat, as the rookie took over the team lead in batting average with a single to right center to bring home Mable.

The Mountaineers cut the deficit to three as Cat Clifford ripped a solo shot in the top of the fourth, but the 5-2 advantage proved to be insurmountable through the rest of the game.

After neither team produced a run in the fifth, the Mountaineers had one more opportunity in the top of the sixth, but Hart kept the visitors off the board in the frame, as the game was ruled final due to darkness after that inning.

—Game 1—

Both teams combined for 20 hits in the first game of the afternoon, as the Bulldogs held a 3-1 advantage after three innings before the Mountaineers responded with a four-run sixth to go ahead, 5-3. But after the Bulldogs rallied to draw even and send the game to extras, the Mount exploded for seven runs in the top of the eighth to secure the first win of the day.

With a runner at first in the bottom of the second, sophomore Taylor Bell (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) singled to left and moved all the way to third on a fielding error in the outfield, allowing classmate Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) to score all the way from first base to tie the game at 1-1. Bell eventually scored herself after Bowen drew a bases-loaded walk to put the home side ahead by a 2-1 advantage.

In the third, Bryant pushed its lead to 3-1 on an RBI single by Corder that allowed Velasquez to score.

After two scoreless frames, the Mountaineers used the long ball to their advantage with a four-run sixth inning. Kelly Hickman got the offense rolling with an RBI double off the center field fence, and Erin Leddy ripped a three-run shot over the left field wall to give the Mount a 5-3 edge.

But the Bulldogs responded with two runs to tie the game in the bottom of the frame, as back-to-back solo shots off the bats of Bowen and Mable evened the game at 5-5. Velasquez nearly left the yard with a double to deep left field in the next at-bat, but the rookie was stranded at second after reliever Danni Cummings entered the game for starter Nicole Pagano – the reigning NEC Pitcher of the Week – and promptly retired the next two batters.

Bryant had a chance to walk off with the win in the bottom of the seventh after Bell led off the inning with a single to right center, but pinch runner Alicia Mosesso (Abington, Mass.) was stranded at third base as Cummings worked out of the jam by inducing back-to-back fly outs.

That missed opportunity proved costly, as the visitors reeled off seven runs in the top half of the eighth. Two runs scored on a single by Leddy, and Liz Christiansen put the match out of reach with a grand slam to stretch the lead to 12-5.

Junior Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.) wound up going seven-plus innings before Hart relieved her in the top of the eighth. Jacob finished having allowed nine hits and eight runs while striking out a season-high five batters and issuing four walks.

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The Bulldogs continue NEC play tomorrow afternoon when they welcome LIU Brooklyn to the Softball Complex for another conference doubleheader. First pitch in the opening game is slated for 1 p.m.

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