Bulldogs sweep UML Tuesday, 2-0 and 7-3

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Kristen Carter (Branchville, N.J.) hit her first-career home run in game one and classmate Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) broke a 3-3 tie in game two with a sac fly to lift the Bryant University softball team to a doubleheader sweep of UMass Lowell, 2-0 and 7-3, on Tuesday afternoon at Conaty Park.

The sweep pushes the Bulldogs (12-12) to .500 for the first time this season, while it drops the River Hawks to 4-17 on the year.

"Performances by Elle [Madsen] and Katie [Saunders] both definitely helped us take both games today," head coach Shayne Lotito said. "Offensively, one through nine was very productive."

GAME ONE

Sophomore Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) twirled a four-hit shutout and Carter provided all the offense as the Black and Gold were able to take game one.

After a scoreless first, freshman Haylee Haas (Moorpark, Calif.) kept the second inning alive with a two-out double. Carter then stepped up to the plate and launched her first-career home run over the wall in right center to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.

"It was good to see Kristen's hard work pay off and her coming out and hitting her first-career home run is awesome to see as a coach," Lotito said. "I am very proud of her and she deserves all of her hard work to pay off in a game."

Madsen did the rest, quieting the River Hawks on just four hits over seven innings. She walked one and struck out four to run her record to 8-5 on the year. Madsen stranded a runner on second in the first, third and seventh innings, retiring the final three batters in the seventh to close the door on a UML rally.

Six different Bulldogs collected a hit in the contest.

GAME TWO

The Bulldogs broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take game two, 7-3, of the doubleheader from UML.

After the River Hawks were able to tie the game in the top of the third, the Black and Gold responded in the fourth. A dropped throw at first allowed Carter to reach to start the inning and sophomore Liana Ogata (Tustin, Calif.) followed with a single to right. A sac bunt moved both runners into scoring position and Mable broke the deadlock with a sac fly to left. Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) followed with a two-strike, two-out single through the right side to make it 5-3.

Bryant added to its lead with two more runs in the fifth. Freshman catcher Alexandra Page (Grafton, Mass.) was hit by a pitch with two outs and none on to start the rally and Carter followed with a single to left to put runners on second and third. After another hit batter loaded the bases, senior Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) drilled a two-run single back up the middle to make it 7-3 Bulldogs.

UML grabbed the early lead in game two as Brianna Martin led off with a home run that hit off the fair pole in left field. Bryant immediately responded with three runs in its first at-bat. Mable's sac bunt turned into a run as the throw to first sailed down the right field line. Haas then worked a two-out walk to keep the inning alive and freshman Emily Bouthillette (Lincoln, R.I.) made it pay off as she drilled a two-run double to dead center field to make it 3-1.

The River Hawks were able to tie the game in the third as Abby Jamieson swatted a two-run home run to right field.

Sophomore Katelin Saunders (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) started for the Bulldogs and was able to work herself out of trouble and tossed a complete game to earn her fourth win of the season. She allowed three runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out two on the day. After giving up two runs in the third, Saunders allowed just two hits over the final four innings and was able strand a pair of runners on in the seventh to close the door.

Corder finished game two with two hits and two RBI and Velasquez was a perfect 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk.

"Getting two wins helps builds momentum and keeps spirits high," Lotito said regarding her teams week that includes nine games in six days. "The girls need to stay focused on what we need to take care of."

The Bulldogs will now head to Teaneck, N.J., to open Northeast Conference play with Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday. Bryant and FDU will play a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.