Bulldogs break from NEC play, head to Albany Tues., host Brown Wed.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University softball team returns to the diamond for a pair of mid-week, non-conference opponents, heading to Albany for 3 p.m. matchup on Tuesday before hosting Brown in its home opener Wednesday at 4 p.m.

In the second weekend of Northeast Conference action, the Bulldogs visited Wagner on Saturday, once again earning a doubleheader split to put them at 2-2 against league opponents. In similar fashion to Bryant's DH with Mount on March 28, the Black and Gold looked sharp in Game 1 en route to a dominating 12-3 win in just five innings. Facing a 2-0 hole after two innings, the Bulldogs exploded for 12 runs over the next three led by a six RBI outing from sophomore outfielder Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.) and a strong start in the circle from junior Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.).

However, Game 2 sang a different tune as Wagner starter McKaleigh Goodale held the Black and Gold to just one run on three hits. Junior centerfielder Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) accounted for the lone Bryant run with a solo shot in the top of the first, while Burger picked up a pair of doubles to cap off an impressive day, but it was not enough as the Seahawks coasted to the 5-1 win.

With less than one month remaining in the regular season, the Bulldogs have just 18 games (10 vs. NEC opponents) remaining on their slate.

On Tuesday, Bryant will trek to Albany for a single game vs. the always competitive Great Danes who enter the day with a 15-8 overall record, 2-1 vs. America East opponents, most recently taking two of three from Maine over the weekend. Sophomore outfielder Kayla Bailey leads her team at the dish with a .375 average, while junior shortstop Maggie Cocks senior outfielder Vicky McFarland ranks second and third, respectively, with .362 and .353 averages. Freshman Devin Durando and Erynn Sobieski have combined to throw 99 innings in the circle for Albany, with the pitching staff as a whole compiling a 4.20 ERA. Last season in Smithfield, the Bulldogs and Great Danes split a high-scoring April doubleheader. Dating back to the 2011 season, Bryant has won five of its last six vs. Albany.

After a seemingly never-ending winter, Wednesday will mark the home opener for the Black and Gold when Brown comes to town for a 4 p.m. clash. The Bears enter mid-week action with an 8-12 overall record, 3-5 vs. Ivy League opponents, coming off a pair of losses vs. Columbia on Saturday. Junior infielder Janet Leung leads her team at the plate with an astounding .420 average and an Ivy League leading 29 hits. Freshman outfielder Yeram Park paces her team in the power categories with a homerun and 14 RBI to go along with a .308 batting average. In the circle, freshman Katie Orona has amassed a team-best 63 innings and a 2.11 ERA for a 5-4 overall record. Last season, the Bulldogs squeaked out a 6-2 win in a nine innings marathon in Providence marking their fourth-straight win over the in-state foes.