Bulldogs drop to Danes, 15-2, in five innings

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After trailing 9-2 through four innings, the Bryant University softball team gave up a six-run fifth inning to Albany, allowing the Great Danes to seal the 15-2 victory in five innings.

The Bulldogs (6-28, 5-3 NEC) trailed the Danes (27-11, 7-0 America East) by three in the first inning after Donna Conrad's two RBI double to left center, plated Elizabeth Snow and Kelly Costello for Albany's 2-0 lead. The Danes tacked on their final run of the inning when Conrad scored from second off Mackenzie Cleary's double to left field.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Snow drove a three RBI homer out of the park to give Albany a 6-0 edge in the top of the second. The top of the fourth saw another three runs as freshman Colby Norris (Toano, Va.) walked Lindsey Haskell, forcing the base runner to score from third. With the bases still loaded, Cleary doubled through the right side, allowing Conrad and Maggie Cocks to score for the Danes' 9-0 advantage.

The Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the fourth, tacking on two runs and cutting the deficit to seven, 9-2. With the one out and the bases loaded, senior Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) plated freshman Jessica Gradillas (Nogales, Ariz.) from third off the RBI single through the right side. Following, sophomore Rachel Monroe (Southwick, Mass.) hit a sacrifice fly to center field into a double play as freshman Chaney Jones (Dover, Del.) was thrown out at third but not before senior Mollie Anderson (East Greenwich, R.I.) scored from third to make it 9-2 after four innings of play.

Albany went on a six-run scoring spree in the top of the fifth which included three runs that were unearned. The Black and Gold were unable to wrangle anything together in the bottom of the fifth, falling to the Danes, 15-2, in five innings.

Red-shirt freshman Brandi Burgin (Santa Clarita, Calif.) recorded the loss on the mound, allowing six runs off six hits in 1.2 innings. Albany's Devin Durando earned her 13th win of the season, letting up two runs off six hits, while striking out three batters in five innings pitched.