Bulldogs split doubleheader vs. Red Flash Sat.

FRESHMAN ELLE MADSEN HELPS LEAD BULLDOGS TO DOUBLEHEADER SPLIT VS. SAINT FRANCIS U. ON SATURDAY

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University softball team exploded for nine runs in Game 2 of its doubleheader against Saint Francis U., earning a split with the Red Flash, falling 9-5 in Game 1 before winning 9-2 in Game 2, Saturday afternoon.

Game 1

The Bulldogs (11-15, 4-6 Northeast Conference) ran into a very talented Saint Francis U. (16-13, 1-1 NEC) team in Game 1 as Ketarah DeVries threw seven innings of solid softball to lead the Red Flash to the 9-5 victory over Bryant.

The Red Flash tallied five first-inning runs to jump out to an early 5-0 advantage through just one half of an inning of play, however a two-run homerun by junior shortstop Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) in the bottom of the inning brought Bryant within three, 5-2, after one.

Saint Francis's offensive attack was relentless throughout the day, adding a run in the top of the second and third to garner a 7-2 lead through three full innings. In the bottom of the fourth, freshman Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) blasted a two-run shot of her own to bring the Bulldogs within three runs, 7-4, after four.

The two teams traded runs in the fifth inning, and Saint Francis added another in the top of the sixth to hold on for a 9-5 victory.

Senior Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) was solid for the Bulldogs, after allowing five early runs, throwing seven innings in her 15 start of the season. Mable and Madsen each tallied a pair of RBI, while Velasquez drove in the fifth run.

Game 2

Freshman Madsen was lights out in just her third start of the season, allowing just two runs (0 earned) in seven innings of work, leading the Bulldogs to a 9-2 victory in Game 2.

Bryant got off to a great start in the bottom of the first as Madsen helped out her own cause with an RBI double down the left field line, scoring junior Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.). Just one batter later, junior Taylor Bell (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) put down a perfectly placed bunt single to score Mable. The Bulldogs were able to capitalize on a Red Flash passed ball, as Madsen scored to put Bryant up 3-0 after just one inning of play.

The Red Flash got two back in the top of the third as they were able to take advantage of a pair of Bryant errors to cut the lead to just one, 3-2. The Bulldogs answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth off back-to-back RBI doubles from Mable and Madsen.

The Black and Gold pushed four more across in the bottom of the sixth, first on a Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) sacrifice fly to left field, and then a three-run double by Madsen.

In Game 2, Madsen went 3-for-4 with five RBI and a run score, in addition to her stellar performance on the hill. Mable, Bell and Velasquez each also tallied a RBI.

Bryant will have a few days off before returning to action on Wednesday as they open up a six-game roadtrip with a doubleheader at Albany (2/4 p.m.)

For all the latest news on the Bryant University softball team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.