Bulldogs drop one-run heartbreakers to Ospreys, Pirates on Opening Day

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University softball team suffered its first two losses of the season on Opening Day of the 2016 campaign, falling to North Florida, 8-7, and East Carolina, 1-0, at the Citrus Classic.

The Ospreys (2-8) handed the Bulldogs (0-2) their first loss of the year as they dug themselves out of a five-run hole, 7-2, in the bottom of the second, closing the deficit to 7-5 on a three-run homer by Katie Mandigo. The Bulldogs were unable to put any more runs on the board through the last five innings and the Ospreys capitalized, scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth.

The Bulldogs got out to the early lead, scoring three runs to open the game. Senior Liana Ogata (Tustin, Calif.) led off for the Black and Gold, singling into right field. The next three batters would move Ogata around the bases, with a Hayley Bottino (Canyon Country, Calif.) sac bunt plating the sophomore for a 1-0 Bulldog edge with only one out.

The Black and Gold found their next two runs off back-to-back batters, as an Osprey throwing error sent senior Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) in for the score. An infield single from freshman Jessica Gradillas (Nogales, Ariz.) would then bring home Bottino for a 3-0 lead before North Florida got out of the inning.

The Ospreys responded in the bottom of the first with two runs of their own, as Shelby Duncan tripled to right center off a Madsen offering, plating leadoff hitter Navia Penrod, who was hit by a pitch to open the frame. North Florida found their second and final run of the first off a wild pitch, allowing Duncan to come home to close the gap to a single run, 3-2.

The scoring didn't stop there, as Bryant used a trio of hits to take a commanding 7-2 lead in the top of the second. Junior Lauren Keast (Holliston, Mass.) scored the first of four runs in the inning after Kaleigh Goulart (Marion, Mass.) singled to left field. A walk to Madsen loaded the bases for Bottino, whose grounder to third advanced the runners, sending Chaney Jones (Dover, Del.) in for the score, 5-2. A two-run double down the line from senior Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.) scored two more before the Ospreys would get out of the inning, trailing, 7-2.

But that was all the offense the Bulldogs would muster in the opener, as the North Florida pitching would keep the Bryant bats silent for the remainder of the contest while the Ospreys mounted their comeback.

Mandigo was the first to respond for North Florida, powering a three-run home run to left in the bottom of the second for a 7-5 margin. The third saw Jen Valle single into left to send Stacy McClelland home for the Ospreys to close the gap to one, 7-6. In the bottom of the sixth, the Ospreys found the tying and go-ahead scores on a bases-loaded, two-run single to center off the bat of Duncan, plating Penrod and Lexi Taylor for an 8-7 lead.

Down by one in the top of the seventh, Goulart drew a walk to represent the tying run, but the Bulldogs were unable to advance her beyond first as the Ospreys wrapped up the victory.

Madsen got the start on the mound for the Bulldogs, lasting two innings and giving up five runs off three hits with a strikeout and a walk. Redshirt-freshman Brandi Burgin (Santa Clara, Calif.) came on in relief for the final four frames and took the loss, allowing three runs off eight North Florida hits.

Logan Green got the starting nod for the Ospreys, letting up seven runs on six hits, though just two of the Bulldogs' scores were earned after a trio of North Florida errors. Katie Beth Gorndon pitched the last five to get the decision, fanning four and holding the Black and Gold hitless.

In the nightcap, the Bulldogs dropped another close one, this time a 1-0 decision to an East Carolina (8-6) squad that would one-hit the Black and Gold. The Pirates would only muster three hits of their own against freshman hurler Colby Norris (Toano, Va.), who struck out six and walked four in a complete-game effort in her collegiate debut.

Three hits would prove to be enough, though, as junior Ali Ramirez scored the only run of the game in the top of the fourth, taking Norris deep to left field with the bases empty. Both sides would go down in order until the top of the seventh, when Meredith Mitchell bunted her way on base. Kacie Oshiro drew a walk during the next at bat, and both runners would advance on a wild pitch. But while the Black and Gold would get out of the inning without any further damage, they would not be able to knot the score in the bottom of the frame, falling in the 1-0 final.

The Bulldogs return to the diamond Saturday, taking on Morgan State at 1:15 p.m. and No. 23 Notre Dame at 3:30 p.m.