Bulldogs split doubleheader at The Mount

BRYANT EXPLODES FOR 10 RUNS IN GAME 2 TO SPLIT WITH THE MOUNT SATURDAY

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After being shut out in Game 1, the Bryant University softball team exoloded for 10 runs in Game 2 of a doubleheader in Emmitsburg, Md., Saturday afternoon against Mount St. Mary's.

Game 1

Despite a another solid effort from senior pitcher Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.), the Bulldogs (5-9, 1-1 Northeast Conference) fell just short Saturday afternoon at Mount St. Mary's (6-13, 1-1 NEC), dropping its Northeast Conference opener, 1-0, in game one of a doubleheader.

Hart allowed just one run in six innings, striking out a pair in her ninth start of the season. The senior's only mistake of the afternoon came in the bottom of the third inning when Cat Clifford homered to left center, scoring the lone run of the contest.

Juniors Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.), Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) and Amy Weinberg (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) and sophomore Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) each picked up a hit on the day, but Bryant struggled to get anything going in Game 1.

Mount St. Mary's junior hurler Nicole Pagano threw a great game, striking out 11 in seven innings off shutout softball.

Game 2

Paced by a trio of RBI from Mable and Velasquez, the Black and Gold got their revenge in the second leg of Saturday's doubleheader, topping the Mountaineers, 10-3.

After falling behind 3-0 after just one inning, the Bulldogs exploded for five runs in the second and four runs in the third to their first NEC victory of the year. Guy kicked off the scoring burst with a bases loaded walk, followed up by back-to-back two-run doubles from junior Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) and Mable.

In the top of the third, Mable picked up her third RBI of the afternoon after she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, putting Bryant up 6-3. Velasquez followed up her 2012 Co-All-NEC mate with a bases-clearing-double to right center. Senior infielder Talia Zizza (Reading, Mass.) picked up the 10th and final RBI for the Bulldogs on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth inning.

Freshman Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) displayed possibly her most impressive collegiate performance to date, throwing 4.1 no-hit innings of relief, picking up the first victory of her career.

The Bulldogs will head to New Jersey for another doubleheader on Sunday, this time against the Hawks of Monmouth University at 12 and 2 p.m.

For links to live stats and streaming video of Sunday's action and all the latest news on the Bryant University softball team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.