Despite leading in both games, Bulldogs drop opening two games at LMU Tournament

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite leading in both games at the LMU Tournament, the Bryant University softball team fell to Quinnipiac, 11-3, in five innings before dropping game two to Loyola Marymount, 8-5, on Friday afternoon in California.

GAME ONE

The Bobcats (4-5) had a dominant third inning, scoring eight runs in the third on their way to an 11-3 win in five innings.

The Bulldogs (1-10) were first on the board in the bottom of the first, as senior Haylee Haas (Moorpark, Calif.) scored from second off sophomore Kaleigh Goulart's (Marion, Mass.) sacrifice bunt.

The Bobcats responded in the second with two runs, taking a 2-1 edge after two innings. Quinnipiac scored its first run off a wild pitch, as Lexi Courtney trotted in from third for the tying score, 1-1. The second came off the next batter, as Kat Vitale drove in Emily Czaja from third off a sacrifice bunt.

In the top of the third, Rebecca Drake drilled a two-run homer to push the Bobcats' lead to three, 4-1. The scoring frenzy then took effect, as the Quinnipiac scored six runs off seven hits all with one out in the inning, giving the Bobcats a 10-2 advantage. Keilani Finley struck out swinging, while Keala Cordeiro lined out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs scored their final two runs of the game to pull within seven, 10-3. With two outs and Haas on second, Goulart hit one out of the park, marking her first homer of the season.

The Bobcats pushed the lead to eight, finalizing the 11-3 victory, after Rebecca Drake homered as the leadoff batter in the top of the fifth.

Haas went 1-for-2 and Goulart 1-for-1 on the game, while the Bulldogs finished with three runs off two hits. The Bobcats totaled 11 runs off 11 hits, as Drake went 3-for-3 to lead the team.

Sophomore Colby Norris (Toano, Va.) moved to 0-5 in the circle after giving up four runs off two hits, while fanning one batter. Classmate Brandi Burgin (Santa Clarita, Calif.) allowed only one run off three hits and struck out two batters. Kendall Brundrett earned her first win of the season, as she stuck out two batters in five innings.

GAME TWO

After taking a 5-2 lead through five innings, the Bulldogs (1-11) gave up six runs to the Lions (7-10) in the bottom of the sixth, ultimately losing 8-5 in game two on Friday.

Again, the Bulldogs were the first to score, following senior Taylor Burger's (Killingworth, Conn.) run from third off freshman Gabrielle Ermish's (Pottstown, Pa.) ground out to second.

The Black and Gold tacked on three more in the top of the third, taking a 4-0 lead, the largest of the season. With no outs and runners on second and third, Goulart singled to right field, scoring Haas from third. Bryant's run brought on a pitching change, as Andy Wellins checked in for Hannah Bandimere.

Following the change, Goulart stole second and freshman Marianna Politis (Arcadia, Calif.) singled to the pitcher. Burger then reached on fielder's choice, as senior Lauren Keast (Holliston, Mass.) was thrown out at home. With one out and a runners on second and third, junior Robyn Ukegawa (Carlsbad, Cal.) scored Goulart from third off a sacrifice fly. Following, sophomore Rachel Monroe (Southwick, Mass.) knocked an RBI single to right field, driving in Politis. The Lions escaped the three-run, four-hit inning by catching Monroe stealing.

The Lions chipped away the Bryant lead to two, 4-2, in the bottom of the third, after Alicia Brown hit a two-run double to right field. The Bulldogs countered with a score of their own in the top of the fourth, 5-2, following Ermish's run from third on a passed ball.

After neither team scored in the fifth, the Lions mounted a comeback in the bottom of the sixth, scoring six runs to take an 8-5 lead. After two Lions were walked, with two outs pinch hitter Mackenzie Kutzke hit two-RBI double to right center to pull the hosts within one, 5-4. Irma Sanchez placed one in left center, plating Kutzke for the game-tying run, 5-5.

Ermish then checked into the circle for the Bulldogs. Following a walk, Amanda Dirks drilled a three-RBI homer, plating Pogni and Sanchez, giving the Lions their first lead of the game, 8-5. The Bulldogs came up empty in the top of the seventh, falling, 8-5, in game two of the LMU Tournament.

Goulart led the offense, going 3-for-4, while the team scored five runs off eight hits. Irma Sanchez went 2-for-4 with two runs to lead the Lions. Burgin recorded the loss in the circle after allowing three runs off two hits, while Wellins moved to 2-4 on the season, after letting up one run off four hits.

The Bulldogs return to action tomorrow against CSU Bakersfield at 11 a.m. and Boise St. at 4 p.m.