Bulldogs top Bears, 6-2, in nine innings Thurs. in Providence

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind a stellar performance from sophomore hurler Hayley Bottino (Canyon Country, Calif.), the Bryant University softball team picked up a hard-earned 6-2 victory in nine innings over Brown, Thursday afternoon in Providence, R.I.

Bottino allowed just one earned run (two total) on ten hits in nine innings of work to go along with a pair of strikeouts in her first-career start for the Black and Gold (14-13).

"Hayley [Bottino] was tremendous on the mound," said head coach Shayne Lotito. "We were all very proud of her performance and it was great to see her earn her first win this season."

Brown (2-16) struck first in the bottom of the fourth when Christina Andrews, Jen Kries and Kelsey Williams all singled to load the bases with no outs, setting up a Trista Chavez sacrifice fly which plated Andrews and gave the hosts the 1-0 edge. With just one out, Bottino was able to get out of the jam, inducing back-to-back groundballs to end the inning with minimal damage.

The Bulldogs answered right back in the next half inning. With two outs, sophomore second baseman Liana Ogata (Tustin, Calif.) sent a base hit to left field, setting up senior catcher Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) for a clutch RBI double, knotting the score, 1-1.

Neither team was able to muster any offense over the next two innings moving the contest to extras.

In the eighth, Ogata was placed on second based on the international softball extra inning rule and Corder reached on a Brown error to put runs on first and second. After a sacrifice from Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) moved the runners along, junior outfielder Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) reached on an error by the left fielder, scoring Ogata and giving Bryant the 2-1 lead. Brown eventually got out of the inning after loading the bases and tied the score once again in their half of the eighth, pushing the contest to the ninth.

In the top of the ninth inning, Haylee Haas (Moorpark, Calif.) started the inning on second base, setting up back-to-back RBI singles by Emily Bouthillette (Lincoln, R.I.) and Kristen Carter (Branchville, N.J.) to put Bryant up, 4-2 with no outs and a runner on second base. Two batters later, Corder picked up her third hit and second RBI of the day, driving in Carter and extending the Bulldog cushion to three runs, 5-2. Velasquez topped off the scoring for Bryant in the ninth, scoring Corder on a RBI single to left field, granting the Black and Gold the 6-2 lead in the process.

In the bottom half of the inning, Bottino retired the Bears in order, picking up her first-career victory as a Bulldog.

"Offensively, Kendall [Corder] led the team throughout the game," added Lotito. "Making the proper adjustments and having great success at the plate. Our defense made some huge, timely plays, and Emily [Bouthillette] was a huge spark off the bench with RBI base hit in top of the 9th

"Hopefully, we can harness this momentum and take into this weekend against a pair of strong conference opponents."

Corder led the day offensively for Bryant, picking up three hits and a pair of RBI, while Velasquez went 2-for-5 with an RBI.

The Bulldogs, 9-3 over their last 12 games, will have just one day before hosting Wagner and LIU Brooklyn for back-to-back doubleheaders in Smithfield on Saturday (1/3 p.m.) and Sunday (12/2 p.m.).

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