Bulldogs fall at Harvard Tuesday evening

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite winning four of its last five games, the Bryant University softball team fell to Harvard, 9-3, Tuesday afternoon in Cambridge, Mass.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, the Bulldogs (15-28) went on to give up five-straight runs to the Crimson (21-19) who picked up their fourth win in their last five chances.

After a scoreless first inning, junior Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) continued her strong play as of late with a solo homerun to right center to give her team the early 1-0 lead. However it was short lived as the hosts went on to score four runs in the bottom half of the inning and another in the third to take the 5-1 edge.

In the top of the fifth, Madsen continued her big day with a base-loaded, two-run single up the middle, plating classmate Liana Ogata (Tustin, Calif.) and senior Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.), cutting the deficit to just two runs. But once again, the Crimson responded scoring three more runs in the bottom of the fifth and another in the sixth to secure the 9-3 victory.

Madsen led the way for the Bulldogs going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored, while Velasquez, senior Jessica Benacquista (Belleville, N.J.) and sophomore Lauren Keast (Holliston, Mass.) each collected a pair of base knocks on the day.

Bryant starter Hayley Bottino (Canyon Country, Calif.) allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk in 1.1 innings of work, while freshman Logan Paul (Shaker Heights, Ohio) gave up five runs in 4.2 innings of relief.

Looking ahead, the Black and Gold will look to regroup for a huge weekend in Northeast Conference play. With just a pair of doubleheaders left and Bryant just a spot out of the top four, the Bulldogs will head to LIU Brooklyn on Saturday before wrapping up league play vs. Saint Francis U. on Sunday.