Madsen and Saunders lift Bulldogs to 2-0 start at USF Tourney Friday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind a pair of dominant pitching performances, the Bryant University softball team opened the USF Spring Break Tournament with two big wins over Purdue and Buffalo Friday night in Clearwater, Fla.

Game 1

Behind a five-run fifth inning, the Bulldogs picked up a huge 6-4 win over Purdue in the first leg of their Friday doubleheader.

Sophomore pitcher Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) threw seven solid innings in her fourth victory of the year, allowing just three earned runs (four total) on 16 hits. Madsen also helped herself with the biggest hit of the game, blasting a grand slam to left center as part of Bryant's (5-9) five-run fifth inning.

The Boilermakers (9-15-1) got on the board first breaking the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning before adding two more in the bottom of the third to take a 3-0 lead heading into the fifth.

In the top of the fifth, sophomore Liana Ogata (Tustin, Calif.) and senior Kristin Carter (Branchville, N.J.) both reached base on Purdue errors with Ogata scoring the first Bulldog run to cut the lead to just two runs. With two down and Carter on second base, senior Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) was hit by a pitch and junior Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) reached on an error to load the bases for Madsen who hammered a shot to left centerfield to put Bryant on top, 5-3, after five and a half innings.

Purdue added another run in the bottom of the fifth but the Black and Gold secured the victory with a Haylee Haas (Canyon Country, Calif.) sacrifice fly to score senior catcher Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.).

On the day, Corder led Bryant with three hits and a run scored while classmate Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) got on base three times with a pair of hits and a walk from the leadoff spot.

Game 2

In the night cap, sophomore Katelin Saunders (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) was absolutely terrific, shutting out a tough Buffalo (9-8) team to earn not only her first victory of the season but her first win as a Bulldog as well. Saunders threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and zero walks to go along with a trio of Ks in a dazzling performance in the pitching circle en route to the 1-0 victory.

The lone run of the contest game in the top of the fourth inning when Madsen got things started in with a single to shallow centerfield. Haas, who was inserted into the game to run for Madsen, then advanced to second on a Corder sacrifice bunt, setting up senior Taylor Bell (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) for an RBI double to left center, scoring Haas.

Saunders took care of the rest as she only allowed three baserunners the entire contest to secure the first back-to-back wins of the year for Bryant.

Tomorrow, the Black and Gold will look to continue their strong play when the faceoff with Wisconsin-Green Bay and St. Joseph's.

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