Bulldogs split in day one of Charleston Invitational

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The Bryant Univeristy softball team split in the opening day of the Charleston Invitational on Friday. The Bulldogs dropped the first game, 3-1, against Marist before getting their first win of the season over tournament host, College of Charleston, 7-3. 

GAME INFORMATION
Marist 3, Bryant 1
Bryant 7, College of Charleston 3
Location: Patriots Point (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.)
W|L|S (Gm 1): Calista Phippen (W, 3-0) | Gabrielle Ermish (L, 0-3)
W|L|S (Gm2): Sarah McKeveny (W, 1-4) | Summer Jenkins (L, 2-3)

COACH FRENCH'S COMMENTS

"I'm just so proud of the kids because we talk about moving on and focusing on what we can control and not dwelling on the past, and after losing a heartbreaker in game 1, it would have been easy to shut down mentally. But, these kids refused to do that and it showed what we are capable of. We got great pitching in both games from Gabi and then Sarah, and the bats came to life in a total group effort to get the first win."

KEY MOMENT GM1

• Marist brought in the first run of the game in the top of the ninth inning. After placing a runner on second to start the inning, the Red Foxes singled into the outfield to bring in the run.
• After putting runners on first and third, Marist doubled to center field to bring in two more runs. Bryant notched a run in the bottom of the ninth but was unable to catch the Red Foxes.  

HOW IT HAPPENED GM1

• Both teams remained hitless up until the third inning when Marist hit back-to-back singles. The Bulldogs caught one stealing and left the other stranded on second as Tiffany Bell (Egg Harbor City, N.J.) made the third out.
• Freshman Toni Camarillo (Corona, Calif.) found the gap in center field for a double before Jessica Gradillas (Nogales, Ariz.) walked to first, putting runners on first and second in the bottom of the sixth. The next two Bulldogs struck out swinging, leaving Camarillo and Gradillas on base.
• In the top of the ninth inning, Marist led off with a single to left center off a 1-2 pitch to bring in the first run of the game. With runners on first and third, Marist doubled to center field to bring in the final two runs.
• Bryant tried making a comeback when Camarillo hit a lead-off double to bring in Bell, but the Red Fox's defense retired the next three Bulldogs to end the game.

STATS GM1

• Gabrielle Ermish (Pottstown, Pa.) struck out two, giving up 12 hits and three runs in nine innings pitched.
• Camarillo led with two hits including a double and an RBI.
• Powell notched one hit.
• Allison Tomaino (Monmouth Beach, N.J.) tallied a stolen base.
• Gradillas was walked in both plate appearances.
• Marist outhit the Bulldogs, 12-3.

KEY MOMENT GM2

• The Bulldogs rallied in the third inning bringing in six runs to grow to a seven-run cushion. A two-run triple to right center from Kaleigh Goulart (Marion, Mass.) highlighted the inning and helped give Bryant the only offense it needed for the remainder of the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED GM2

• In the second inning, Dakota Bilodeau (Milford, N.H.) brought in Goulart with a single to the right field gap.
• The bats were swinging for Bryant in the top of the third. Gradillas singled up the middle to bring in the first run followed by Goulart who ripped the ball to right center on a 3-2 pitch to bring in two more runs.
• Bryant continued to bring in the runs as Mariana Politis (Arcadia, Calif.) and Bilodeau hit a pair of singles to bring in two.
• Sarah McKeveny (Bohemia, N.Y.) hit a batter in the bottom of the third inning to move runners to first and second. The Cougars then singled up the middle to bring in its first run, 7-1.
• The College of Charleston tallied an unearned run in the fifth inning to due to a throwing error by the pitcher, 7-2.
• In the bottom of the seventh, the Cougars moved runners with a sacrifice bunt, putting runners in scoring position. Charleston's Brittany Vicary grounded out to Camarillo to bring in the Cougar's final run, 7-3.  

STATS GM2

• Goulart tallied a triple to produce two runs.
• Bilodeau also produced a pair of run for the Black and Gold with two hits.
• Gradillas and Politis each brought in one run.
• McKeveny struck out four batters in 6.1 innings in the circle.
• Gradillas led with three hits.
• Bryant outhit the Cougars, 11-10.

GAME NOTES

• Coach French tallied his first win as head coach of the Bulldogs in game two.
• McKeveny also tallied her first win in game two.
• Goulart hit the first triple of the season for the Bulldogs.

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs compete in day two of the Charleston Invitational beginning tomorrow 1:30 p.m. against Youngstown State, followed by a 6 p.m. meeting with NC State.