Madsen leads Bulldogs to first-ever NEC Title

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind an MVP-type performance from sophomore pitcher Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.), the Bryant University softball team took down LIU Brooklyn, 5-3, to win its first-ever Northeast Conference Championship Saturday afternoon at Conaty Park.

The Bulldogs went a perfect 3-0 behind the bionic arm of Madsen en route to the NEC Title and the first Division I NCAA Championship berth in program history. The sophomore hurler compiled a 3-0 record in the circle, allowing just eight earned runs over the weekend while amassing a .500 average at the plate with a homerun, five RBI and two runs scored.

"From the very start, the team had a very calm, quiet confidence about them," said Bryant head coach Shayne Lotito. "It was a much more relaxing feeling than when we began this tournament and we were able to appreciate every moment, but we respected LIU and we knew it was going to be a battle."

On Saturday, Bryant went into the Championship round in the driver's seat with just one win standing between them and history. The Blackbirds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Madison Zymkowitz drove in Whitney West on a bases loaded, infield single.

However, Bryant struck back scoring the next five runs to take a commanding lead. It began in the top of the second when Madsen drew a leadoff walk to get thing started for the Black and Gold. After a pair of tough at bats, senior Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) laced her first of two hits on the day to left center to drive in Madsen and knot the score, 1-1.

In the top of the third, Bryant went back to work when Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) and Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) reached base with two outs, setting up Madsen who sent a three-run laser beam over the left center field fence to give Bryant the 4-1 lead. 

"Elle's [Madsen] homerun was a huge momentum changer," said Lotito. "It was a no-doubter and we never looked back from there.

Her [Madsen] performance on the mound, time-and-time again, after facing the same batters multiple times each game is unbelievable. She continued to handcuff hitters, not allowing them to string any type of momentum together."

The Black and Gold went on to tack another run on in the following inning when Guy lead things off with a double to right center, setting up senior catcher Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) who drove her classmate home with a single to right field to put the Bulldogs up, 5-1.

On the defensive end, Madsen was dealing, retiring 12-straight Blackbirds into the bottom of the sixth inning until Ariana Lopez sent a pinch hit homer to dead center to cut the Bryant lead to just three runs, 5-2. LIU added one more in the sixth, but Madsen quickly shut things down, conserving the 5-3 edge heading into the seventh.

In LIU's final at bats, The NEC Player of the Year and Tournament MVP did exactly what she had done all year, shut the door on the opposition, securing the Championship victory for the Bulldogs.

Madsen, Mable and Velasquez rounded out the All-NEC Tournament Team selections for Bryant, while Guy and sophomore Hayley Bottino (Canyon Country, Calif.) lead the Bulldog offense on Saturday with a pair of his apiece.

With the win, Lotito and her staff bring the first NEC Championship trophy to Smithfield and will lead the Bulldogs to the DI NCAA Tournament for the first-time in Bryant history.

"As a staff, we just love this game," noted Lotito. "And we do everything in our power to teach the girls everything we know about it and show them how passionate we are about them and the game itself.

From Day 1, the girls bought in and wanted to learn how to respect game and from there, the rest is history. They wanted it for themselves, for each other and for the coaches and we are so proud of what they have overcome and everything they have accomplished so far."

Bryant currently awaits its fate to find out which of the 16 locations across the country they will head to next to compete in the regional round of the NCAA Tournament from May 16-18. The NCAA selection show airs Sunday night at 10 p.m. on ESPNU where the Bulldogs and 63 other teams will find out where they are headed next weekend.

"We aren't ready to be done," added Lotito. "We aren't ready for this moment and this season to be over and we're ready for whoever is next."

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