Bulldogs sweep FDU, clinch 20-win season

Bulldogs clinch 20-win season, sweep FDU Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After cruising to a 10-4 win in the opening game, the Bryant University softball team earned a doubleheader sweep against Northeast Conference foe Fairleigh Dickinson by means of a 3-0 victory in the late tilt, as the Bulldogs used timely hitting and benefited from phenomenal defense and pitching to take two against the Knights on Saturday afternoon at the Bryant Softball Complex at Conaty Park.

Seven different players recorded a hit for the Bulldogs (20-23, 11-7 NEC) in the early game, including four from sophomore Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) and home runs from senior Lindsay Martin (Methuen, Mass.) and rookie Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.), before the Knights (30-20, 7-13 NEC) left 14 runners on base during their loss in the second game.

By means of the sweep, the Bulldogs secure their second consecutive 20-win season after going 25-19 in 2011. With one win tomorrow after Central Connecticut State, the Bulldogs would finish in fourth place, a spot that would guarantee them a playoff berth had they not be in the final year of Division I reclassification.

In between games, the program unveiled a special commemorative bench to Ray McCart, which will be placed in left field in his honor thanks to a generous donation from the softball parents and community.

Game 1

Bryant fell behind by two runs early, but the bats would soon come alive by means of a five-run third inning and a three-run fourth, as the Bulldogs downed FDU, 10-4, in the opening game on Saturday.

Guy would finish the first game 4-for-5, leading all Bulldogs and tying FDU's Kirsten Shreve for the most hits by any player in the game. The California native also drove in two runs.

Bulldog pitcher Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) picked up her 11^th win of the season, going the distance and limiting the Knights to four runs on 10 hits while striking out two and walking none of the 31 batters she faced.

Megan Reiner took the loss after lasting just 2 2/3 innings. The righty surrendered six earned runs – seven total – on six hits while striking out two and walking three. She was relieved by teammate Marie Shaughnessy, who went 3 1/3 innings while allowing three runs – one earned – on six hits while striking out two and walking three.

The Knights hopped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, as Caitlin Bradac launched a one-out homer to straightaway center to put the visitors ahead by a pair. Also scoring on the play was Shreve, who reached in the previous at-bat with a single to shallow center.

But the Bulldogs quickly answered after sophomore Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) tripled with two outs and later came in to score on an error at second, making it 2-1 after the first. Mable finished the opening game 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

An inning later, Martin tied the match with her fourth homer of the season before the Bulldogs exploded with five runs in the third. Velasquez launched a two-run homer to put the Bulldogs ahead, 4-2, after Mable led off the inning with a double. Four batters later, Martin came through again with a two-out, two-RBI single to run up the lead to 6-2.

After Shaughnessy entered for Reiner, Guy rounded out the scoring with her third hit of the game, an RBI single to center, to put the home side ahead, 7-2, at the end of three.

Three more Bryant runs would come in during the fourth after sophomore Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) blasted a double to left center to lead off the frame. A bunt single by Amy Weinberg (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) pushed home Corder, and three batters later Guy connected again for an RBI base hit up the middle to score Weinberg. Finally, senior Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) blooped an RBI base hit down the line in shallow right, allowing Lauren McCart (Voorhees, N.J.) to score and putting the Bulldogs ahead, 10-2, heading to the fifth.

FDU staved off a mercy rule defeat with a single run in the fifth and added one final score in the seventh, but that would be the closest they would come as Hart kept the Knights in check the rest of the way to pick up the win.

Game 2

After both teams combined for 22 hits in Game 1, the later game had a much different feel to it, but the Bulldogs still managed to prevail, 3-0, with timely scoring in the later innings while benefiting from stellar defense to secure the afternoon sweep.

Five different players each had one hit, accounting for all of the Bulldog offense in Game 2. But junior Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.) was at her finest, picking up her second shutout of the season by tossing seven scoreless innings. The right-hander allowed five walks and nine hits, but Bryant's defense picked her up time and time again to keep the Knights – who stranded 14 base runners – from scoring.

Reiner returned to the circle for Game 2 but the results were no different, as the Bulldogs handed the FDU hurler her second loss of the day after giving up three runs – two earned – on five hits over six innings. Reiner struck out six and walked three while facing 27 batters.

Both Velasquez and Corder were responsible for driving in the three Bulldog runs, as the former finished 1-for-3 and the latter belted a pinch-hit double in the bottom of the sixth to bring home two huge insurance runs.

After both teams put up zeroes through the first three innings, the Bulldogs broke through in the fourth after Mable doubled down the left field line and Velasquez scored her with a single to right moments later. Bryant would then load the bases, but Reiner rebounded to retire three straight batters to escape from the jam.

Bryant dodged a bullet after FDU led the bases loaded in both the fifth and the sixth, and the home side made sure to capitalize in the bottom of the sixth, as Corder was summoned for a pinch-hit opportunity with runners on the corners. The sophomore catcher promptly turned on a 1-1 pitch and sent the ball into the left center field gap, allowing both players to score while pushing the Bryant lead to 3-0.

That would be enough for Jacob, who set down the Knights in order in the top of the seventh to notch the sweep for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs conclude the 2012 season tomorrow, May 6, with one final conference doubleheader against Central Connecticut State. The program will honor its three graduating seniors following the conclusion of the games. First pitch from the Bryant Softball Complex at Conaty Park is set for 1 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.