Softball looks to extend streak over weekend

BRYANT SOFTBALL VISITS LIU BROOKYLN SATURDAY AND FDU SUNDAY RIDING THREE-GAME WIN STREAK

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off a huge doubleheader sweep at Albany on Wednesday, the Bryant University softball team will look to continue its winning ways as it gets back to Northeast Conference play over the weekend at LIU Brooklyn on Saturday (1/3 p.m.) and at Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday (12/2 p.m.).

On Wednesday, the Bulldogs picked up a pair of victories against a very talented Albany team, winning the first game, 8-3, before squeaking out a 6-5 victory in Game 2. In Game 1, sophomore center fielder Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) blasted a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning to extend the Bulldog lead to five runs which was enough for senior pitcher Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) to earn her sixth victory of the season. In Game 2, Bryant rallied late scoring three runs, including the go ahead score, in the top of the seventh inning to pick up a gritty 6-5 win.

Entering weekend action, the Bulldogs have rattled off three-straight wins, including eight of their last nine. Over the course of the last nine games, the Black and Gold are hitting .350 as a team while holding their opposition to a .292 clip, outscoring opponents, 74-40, in the process. Two-time reigning NEC Rookie of the Week Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) has been on fire collecting 11 hits in 22 at bats with five doubles and three homeruns (13 RBI). As well as her offensive outburst, Madsen has been money on the mound posting an unheralded 1.71 era in 28.2 innings for a perfect 5-0 mark. Junior shortstop Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.), reigning NEC Player of the Week, has been on a tear as well hitting .455 with three homers and 13 RBI over the last nine games.

LIU Brooklyn enters weekend action with an 8-31 overall mark, 4-4 in the NEC this season. Most recently the Blackbirds fell to St. John's, 7-5, on Wednesday. Lauren Morizi leads sits atop the LIU leaderboard with a .375 batting average, collecting 45 hits and 22 RBI. Emily Kakuska ranks second with a .351 average, while Whitney West rounds out the top-three at .330. Cassie Vondrak handles most of the pitching duties for the Blackbirds logging more than 130 innings in 22 starts, however Nicole Archer leads the team in era posting a 4.62 mark. Last year, LIU Brooklyn stole a pair from the Bulldogs in Smithfield, including an 18-4 victory in Game 1 of the doubleheader.

Fairleigh Dickinson heads into the weekend with a 15-13 record, also 4-4 in the NEC. The Knights have won their last three contests, including a sweep of Saint Peter's on Wednesday. FDU is led by Angelique Nieves who sports a .344 batting average in 22 games this season. Courtney Slye boasts a .338 BA to go along with her four homeruns and 11 RBI. Bryanna Dorado also comes into the weekend with four homers and a team-leading 17 RBI. On the mound, The Knights are led by Loren Sravrou who has posted a 1.64 era in 10 starts and 47 innings. Last year in Smithfield, the Bulldogs swept the Knights, 10-4 and 3-0.

Bryant will look to continue its strong play as of late with a pair of crucial NEC doubleheaders.

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