Bulldogs take down Brown, 5-3

Bulldogs take down Brown, 5-3

Sophomore Amy Weinberg postgame 

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Led by a 3-for-3 day at the plate by sophomore Amy Weinberg (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.), the Bryant University softball team downed intrastate rival Brown University, 5-3, on a windy Tuesday afternoon at the Bryant Softball Complex at Conaty Park.

Despite being out-hit by a 9-7 margin, the Bulldogs (16-21) produced their scoring primarly by means of the long ball, as three different players – including Weinberg – went yard over the course of the game to hand the Bears (8-25) the loss.

Weinberg led all players with three hits and also drove in two runs and scored once. The first baseman drove in a run on an RBI double to tie the game in the bottom of the second before launching her first homer of the season – and second of her career – to lead off the bottom of a three-run fifth inning for the Bulldogs. Finally, she capped it off with a two-out double in the sixth to wrap up her strong offensive day.

Junior hurler Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) won for the third game in a row for the home side, as the righty tossed a complete game, nine-hit outing while allowing three runs, no walks and striking out three.

The Bulldogs managed to get the best of Brown starter Jessica Cherness, who took the loss after yielding five runs – four earned – on five hits over four innings. Cherness did manage to strike out five batters while allowing just one walk, but she was relieved by Denise van der Goot in the top of the fifth, and the latter tossed two innings of scoreless ball while striking out two and walking two.

Brown managed to strike first in the opening frame, as Steph Thompson reached on a fielder's choice before scoring all the way from first on a two-out, RBI double off the bat of Trista Chavez, handing the Bears an early 1-0 lead.

After a scoreless first, the Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the second by means of a two-out rally. After senior Lauren McCart (Voorhees, N.J.) drew a two-out walk on five pitches, Weinberg smoked a frozen rope over the left fielder that rolled all the way to the fence. McCart came in to score from first on the play, as the Bulldogs drew even at 1-1 heading to the third.

The Bulldogs took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, as sophomore Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) launched a bomb to straightaway center that ricocheted off the top of the fence. After deflecting off the wall, the ball nearly traveled back to the infield dirt before a fielder got a hold of it. Mable, meanwhile, was sent home in the midst of it all, and the shortstop slid home safely for the inside-the-park homer, pushing the Bulldogs ahead, 2-1.

An inning later, Bryant padded its lead with three more runs, as Weinberg's potent day at the plate continued as she led off the frame with a moon shot that cleared the left field fence by a mile to put the home side ahead, 3-1. After Christina Eringis (Tewksbury, Mass.) reached on an error at short, senior Lindsay Martin (Methuen, Mass.) made the most out of the mistake, blasting her third homer of the season to make it 5-1 at the end of the frame.

Brown managed to get one run back in the top of the sixth, as Kate Strobel smacked a solo shot to right center to cut the deficit to 5-2, and the Bears nearly had Hart on the ropes in the top of the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out and with the tying run at first base, Sam Brady drove in a run on a fielder's choice, allowing the visitors to claw to within two runs. But with two outs on the board, Hart retired leadoff hitter Dani Palms on a bouncer back to the mound, and the Bulldogs survived the late scare to win their third straight match.

The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday, April 26, when they travel to Albany, N.Y., for a makeup doubleheader against UAlbany. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

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