Morgan St. and No. 23 Notre Dame manage Bulldogs on day two of Citrus Classic

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University softball team saw tough competition on day two of the Citrus Classic, falling to Morgan State, 6-2, and No. 23 Notre Dame, 7-0.

Game One

In the first contest of day two at the Citrus Classic, the Bulldogs (0-4) held the Bears (1-4) scoreless through the first three innings. The top of the fourth saw a dramatic score change, as the Bears came out swinging, taking a commanding 6-0 lead.

Morgan State would hold onto its six-run advantage, until the bottom of the six, when the Bulldogs got on the board. With two runners on freshman Jessica Gradillas (Nogales, Ariz.) doubled down the left field line, plating classmate Kaleigh Goulart (Marion, Mass.) and sophomore Rachel Monroe (Southwick, Mass.) for the two run score, 6-2.

The Bears managed to hold the Bulldogs to just two runs, keeping Bryant scoreless in the final inning and taking the 6-2 victory.

Game Two

Heading straight into their next game, the Bulldogs faced No. 23 Notre Dame, falling, 7-0, to the Fighting Irish (11-3). Notre Dame took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first as Karley Wester singled to Hayley Bottino (Canyon Country, Calif.) on the mound on a 2-1 count, before stealing second and advancing to third off a single from Ali Wester. Brooks doubled to right center, plating Karley Wester for the 1-0 advantage. The Bulldogs got themselves out of the inning, catching a base runner stealing and a ground out to first and second.

Both teams saw a scoreless second, as both defenses combined for only one hit. The third saw action from the Fighting Irish, as they scored another three runs to push the margin to five, 5-0. Micaela Arizmendi doubled to left center to send Ali Wester home, before she scored herself off a double into left center by Melissa Rochford. With a runner on third, Reed singled to second base, plating Rochford for the 5-0 Notre Dame lead. With three runs scored and only one out, freshman Colby Norris (Toano, Va.) came in to relieve Bottino, striking out the first batter swinging she faced, before a Carly Piccinich ground out to third got the Bulldogs out of the inning.

Norris continued to help the Bryant defense, striking out Arizmendi swinging to get the Bulldogs out of the fourth unscathed. The Fighting Irish scored their next two score in the top of the sxith. With one out and runners on second and third, Ali Wester flied out to left field, plating Sullivan and advancing Piccinich to third. Brooks was up to bat next, singling up the middle, sending Piccinich in for the score. Arizmendi flied out to left field to end the top of the sixth.

The Fighting Irish held the Bulldogs scoreless in the final innings, sealing the 7-0 victory. Katie Beriont pitched all seven innings for Notre Dame, letting up only one hit by senior Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.). Bottino got the start at the mound, giving up nine hits and five runs. Norris checked in for the final 4.2 innings, allowing four hits and two runs, while recording four strikeouts.

The Bulldogs finish out their five-game series at the Citrus Classic against Syracuse, tomorrow at 10 a.m.