Bulldogs drop pair at UTSA despite big day from Carter and Velasquez

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite a pair of two multi-hit games from junior centerfielder Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) and senior outfielder Kristen Carter (Branchville, N.J.), the Bryant University softball team dropped a both its opening day games of the UTSA Mid-Major Classic in San Antonio, Texas, Friday afternoon.

Game 1

In the first game, the Bulldogs held a 1-0 lead after two but a pair of huge innings from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi propelled the Islanders to a, 9-6, victory.

Velasquez went 2-4 with three RBI, including a solo homerun in the bottom of the third, to lead the Bulldogs, while senior catcher Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) picked up a pair of RBI singles to lead the Bulldogs.

Bryant got things going in the bottom of the first when Madsen picked up a bases loaded walk to take a 1-0 lead. The Black and Gold held the Islanders scoreless through two innings, however a four-run outburst in the bottom of the third, followed by five runs in the sixth propelled Corpus Christi to the three-run victory.

Sophomore Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) falls to 0-1 on the year, allowing four runs on six hits in two innings of work. Classmate Katelin Saunders (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) threw 1.2 scoreless innings and struck out three in her first work of the season. Carter and Madsen also picked up a pair of hits on the afternoon.

Game 2

In the second leg of the doubleheader, the host Roadrunners exploded for six first-inning runs to secure the 7-4 win over the Bulldogs.

After a shaky start from Saunders, Madsen threw 5.1 solid innings of relief, allowing just one run on four hits with a season-high six strikeouts. Madsen also picked up an RBI single as part of a four-run third inning for the Black and Gold.

In the top of the third, freshman catcher Alexandra Page (Grafton, Mass.) got things going with her first-career hit as a Bulldogs, sparking a pair of RBI singles from Velasquez and Madsen. Senior outfielder Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) capped off the outburst for Bryant with a two-run double down the leftfield line for her lone hit of the contest.

Carter and Velasquez capped off their tremendous starts with two hits each (four each on the day), while Saunders was charged with her first loss of the year.

Bryant will have an opportunity to turns things around on Saturday when they face off with the University of Nebraska at Omaha at 12:30 p.m. before they get another crack at UTSA at 3 p.m (both EST).

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