Bulldogs drop doubleheader against Camels, 6-1 and 11-5

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – In the Bryant University softball team's first series of its North Carolina tour, the Bulldogs dropped the first doubleheader to Campbell, 6-1 and 11-5.

Game One

After four scoreless innings, the Camels (9-9) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth, when Amber Schisler homered to left field to drive in two runs. The Bulldogs (0-11) found themselves within one, 2-1, after freshman Kaleigh Goulart (Marion, Mass.) homered to left field in the top of the eighth, but the Bulldogs were unable to hang on as the Camels scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the first game, 6-1.

Senior Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) received the start for the Bulldogs, recording the loss after letting up four runs off seven hits, while striking out three batters. Campbell's Katie Baker pitched all seven innings for the Camels, striking out three Bulldogs, while only letting up one run off two hits.

Game Two

Bryant took an early 1-0 lead in the first, after Madsen was driven home, after stealing second, by sophomore Maritza Martinez's (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) single to center field. The Camels topped the Bulldogs in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs to take the 3-1 lead. With one out and a runner on second, Rachel McCollum singled to left field to send Taesha DuBoise in for the Camels' first score. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, Melissa Tullar singled to right field to send two runners in for the Campbell 3-1 advantage.

The third innings saw two runs from both sides, as the Bulldogs tied the contest, 3-3, in the top of the third inning, before Campbell took the two-run advantage back in the bottom of the inning. With one out and a runner on second and third, Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.) singled through the left side to send freshman Chaney Jones (Dover, Del.) in for the first run of the slate. On the next play, Burger was able to steal second, as Madsen stole home for the equalizer, 3-3.

McCollum was able to get the Camels on the board in the bottom of the third, scoring on the throw off Madison Herring's double to center field. The Camels found the two-run edge after Herring was sent home on Melissa Tullar's ground out to the pitcher, 5-3.

Both team's grabbed equal runs again in the fifth, scoring one run apiece, before the Camels outscored the Bulldogs 5-1 in the sixth inning. Junior Alexandra Page (Grafton, Mass.) was able to score the Bulldogs' only run of the inning off an error from the right fielder to make it 6-5.

With the bases loaded and one out, Cierra Harris scored off a wild pitch to push the Camels' lead to 7-5. The next batter singled to left field, driving Karsen Leonhardt in for the home team's three run-advantage, 8-5. After the Bulldogs recorded the second out of the inning, the Camels capitalized on a throwing error, as Madison Casto stole home, before Herring found her way around second, third and then home. The Camels earned the final run of the game, after Tullar singled to drive Chandler Patterson in for the score, 11-5.

Freshman Colby Norris (Toano, Va.) earned the start on the mound for the Bulldogs, striking out two batters, while letting up six runs off seven hits in 4.1 innings. Senior Hayley Bottino (Canyon Country, Calif.) pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing five runs off six hits. The Bulldogs scored three runs off five hits on the Camels' starting pitcher Caroline Smith. Amber Schisler came in to relieve Smith, recording her third win of the season, after allowing only two runs off four hits in her 4.2 innings on the mound.

The Bulldogs get another shot at Campbell, taking on the Camels on Sunday at 1 p.m.