Monroe and Ukegawa named 2017 softball captains

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Head softball coach Shayne Lotito named juniors Rachel Monroe (Southwick, Mass.) and Robyn Ukegawa (Carlsbad, Calif.) as the Bulldogs' 2017 captains.

In her third season in Smithfield, Monroe is titled captain for the second-straight year. The shortstop will be returning after leading the Bulldogs with 113 assists last season, while totaling 86 putouts on the year. The New England native finished with 12 runs off 21 hits, including four doubles, eight RBI and a home run in Bryant's 8-5 win at NC State on March 20, 2016.

Ukegawa recorded the team's second most putouts last season with 121, while totaling 14 assists and a .985 fielding percentage from behind the plate. The catcher finished the 2016 season with three runs off 11 hits, including one double and one RBI.

The captains and their fellow Bulldogs begin the 2017 season against Fordham at the ECU Pirate Clash on Friday, Feb. 17.