Corder hits grand slam, but Bulldogs fall, 14-4, to Sooners in NCAA Regionals

Postgame Press Conference

NORMAN, OKLA. – Senior catcher Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) accounted for all four runs thanks to a second inning grand slam, but it wasn't enough as the Bryant University softball team fell to #7 seed Oklahoma, 14-4, in the opening round of the NCAA Norman Regional, Friday night at Marita Hynes Field.

"We knew coming in here it was going to be a tremendous challenge," said Bryant head coach Shayne Lotito. "Having to play the defending national champions is never easy, but I'm proud of the way our girls fought and how they never gave up."

Oklahoma starter Kelsey Stevens was dialed in early picking up a pair of strikeouts to open the contest but back-to-back hits from junior center fielder Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) and sophomore pitcher Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) put runners on second and third with two outs for the Bulldogs. Stevens, however, earned her third K of the night to hold Bryant scoreless in their first NCAA at bats.

As Madsen went to work in the bottom of the first, three-straight, softly hit, but nicely placed balls landed for singles to load the bases, setting up Brittany Williams who blooped a base hit into left field to put Oklahoma up, 2-0. After a pair of fly outs, Callie Parsons drew a walk to load the bases again, but Madsen forced Javen Henson to ground out to short, holding OU to just two runs in the first inning.

In the top of the second, Bryant showed its patience at the plate drawing three-straight walks to open the inning, setting up Corder who sent a grand slam over the left center field fence, her first in two seasons, to put Bryant up, 4-2, heading to the bottom of the inning.

"We told them to come out and look for pitches in the zone," added Lotito. "We wanted them to attack pitches and that's what they were doing so it was good to them come out swinging."

In the bottom half of the inning, Oklahoma wasted little time responding the Corder grand slam when Shelby Pendley sent a three-run shot of her own to left center, putting the Sooners back in front, 6-4, with no outs. The Sooners went on to tack on four more runs before Bryant could get out of the inning, putting the hosts up, 10-4, after two.

After a 1,2,3 Bryant third inning, Oklahoma went back to work, adding to its edge thanks to a Whitney Ellis three-run homer. The Sooners kept Bryant quiet again the fourth, adding one run in the bottom of the inning to go up 14-4 after four.

Pendley topped off her stellar day with a strong inning in the circle in the top of the fifth to secure the 14-4 Oklahoma victory.

"If I know her [Elle Madsen], she bounces back quickly," said Lotito. "And we know she's going to come out tomorrow on fire."

Next up, the Black and Gold will faceoff with CAA foe Hofstra, Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. EST in an elimination game at the OU Softball Complex.

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