Bulldogs fall, 10-0, to No. 4 Tigers, manage nine scores in 14-9 loss to Panthers

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After being shutout, 10-0, by No. 4 Auburn in game one of the day, the Bryant University softball team came out hot against Georgia State, scoring nine runs in game two's 14-9 loss at the Wilson/DeMarini Classic.

Game One

The Bulldogs (0-8) faced No. 4 Auburn in the first game of the day, where the Tigers (18-1) took an early 3-0 lead in the first two innings. With one out and the bases loaded in the top of the first, freshman Colby Norris (Toano, Va.) threw one into the dirt, allowing Emily Carosone to run in for the score off the wild pitch. Norris walked the next batter, but was able to get herself out of the jam as Emily Spain flied into a double play to end the inning.

In the top of the second with one out and runners on second and third, Tiffany Howard doubled, sending both runners in to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead. Senior Hayley Bottino (Canyon Country, Calif.) relieved Norris on the mound, helping the Bulldogs end the inning with two Auburn runners on base.

Both teams remained scoreless through the next two innings, until Auburn's Jade Rhodes homered to right center for the Tigers only hit and run of the fifth. The Bulldogs were unable to respond in the fifth, allowing Auburn to distance themselves further in the top of the sixth.

After Carosone was hit by a pitch, the Tigers loaded the bases before redshirt freshman Brandi Burgin (Santa Clara, Calif.) relieved Bottino on the mound. Burgin walked the next batter and then was called for an illegal pitch, forcing back-to-back Auburn scores to make it 6-0. Rhodes proved the power of her bat, homering again in the sixth, this time hitting a grand slam to extend the margin to 10. Sophomore Logan Paul (Shaker Heights, Ohio) checked in for Burgin, striking out her first batter, before Auburn's next two batters grounded out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, with a chance to cut the deficit, Lexi Davis struck out Bryant's first three batters looking to end the game in Auburn's favor, 10-0.

Norris recorded the loss on the mound (0-3), allowing four walks and three runs off four hits in 1.1 innings. Paul recorded the only strikeout for the Bulldogs in her one inning of on the mound. Marcy Harper (6-1) earned the win, striking out four Bulldogs in three innings, while only letting up a single hit.

Game Two

Game two of the day saw a high-scoring contest as the Bulldogs notched a new season-high nine runs, finding scores in four innings. Georgia State (11-8) proved to have the better bat, defeating the Bulldogs, 14-9, thanks to a six-run fifth inning.

The Panthers were first on the board as Kensey Caldwell singled to the shortstop, driving Breanna Skalski in for the 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the first with one out, when senior Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) doubled to right center, allowing sophomore Rachel Monroe (Southwick, Mass.) to score from first, as Madsen advanced to third on the throw. Junior Taylor Burger's (Killingworth, Conn.) sacrifice fly led to a Madsen run, as the Bulldogs took their first lead, 2-1.

With one out and the bases loaded in the second, Madsen walked Skalski, forcing in the tying run. Two batters later, Skalski and Taylor Bradley each scored, after Caldwell singled through the left side.

In the bottom of the second, the Bulldogs found the tying score, after freshman Jill Staley (Lake Katrine, N.Y.) ran home off a wild pitch, which allowed junior Haylee Haas (Moorpark, Calif.) to advance to third. Sophomore Gianna Pizzano's (Saugus, Mass.) sacrifice fly to left field brought Haas in for the game-tying run, 4-4.

Neither team saw scoring in the following two innings, with the Bulldogs recording only one hit in the innings combined. With an even score, the Panthers made a statement in the fifth, scoring six runs on 5 hits.

With no outs and the bases loaded, Morgan reached first on fielder's choice, allowing Caldwell Remington Hasty to score off the catcher's error, 6-4. The Panthers next three batters brought four runs in for GSU, including Morgan Brown's single through the right side to drive Morgan and Taylor Anderson to make it 10-4.

The Black and Gold cut the deficit to four, 10-6, in the bottom of the sixth, beginning with a two-out RBI single from Burger. With a runner on second and third, freshman Jessica Gradillas (Nogales, Ariz.) singled up the middle to drive Monroe in for the run. The Panthers were able to escape the three-hit, two-run inning, after Staley struck out looking.

In the top of the sixth, the Panthers tacked on three more runs to make it 13-6 after back-to-back doubles led to GSU scores. Norris checked in for Bottino on the mound and helped the Bulldogs out of the inning, as the Panther's next two batters grounded out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth with a runner on third, Pizzano singled up the middle, providing freshman Chaney Jones (Dover, Del.) the chance to run in for the score, 13-7. With two outs and runners on first and second, Pizzano scored off a Mallory Harrigan (Albany, N.Y.) single to right center to make it 13-8. Mounting what looked to be a comeback, Madsen scored from third after Burger doubled to right center, 13-9. GSU's Amanda Chance relieved Taylor Thorpe on the mound after Thorpe allowed the Bulldogs three runs off three hits.

In the top of the seventh the Panthers plated their final run to make it 14-9 after Anderson scored off a single from Brown. The Bulldogs were able to end the top of the inning, as Staley threw Morgan out at home from leftfield. The Black and Gold were unable to muster up the comeback, as Chance struck out Jones swinging, before Bryant's next two batters lined out to end the game.

Madsen saw the most success on the mound, recording four strikeouts in her 3.1 innings. Bottino (0-2) finished with the loss after giving up nine runs off seven hits in two innings. Thorpe (3-2) recorded the win for the Panthers, striking out three Bulldogs, while allowing six runs off eight hits in 4.2 innings on the mound.