Courtney Paolantonio and Gardner go yard in opening day victory against Radford

STATESBORO, GA. - The Bryant University softball team defeated Radford 4-3 in the first game of the season at the Bash of the Boro tournament.

Jenna Gardner and Courtney Paolantonio went deep, and Kylie Kenney pitched five innings with three strikeouts.

Bryant 4, Radford 3
Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex (Statesboro, GA.)
 W | L | S: Kylie Kenney (1-0) | Natalie Jones (0-1)

Coach French's Comments
"Great team win today. I'm super proud of our resiliency in getting down 3-0 in the first and then climbing back to take the lead and not letting them score again".

 Key Moment 

• In the top of the fifth inning, Radford had the bases loaded with no outs. Kenney forced a foul out, a strike out, and a pop fly to get out of the inning and hold the Bulldog's one-run lead (4-3).

How it Happened 

• Kenney struck out the first batter, and then the Highlanders hit back-to-back singles before Kenney got her second strike out in the top of the first. Then with two outs in the first, Radford hit a three-run home run (3-0).
• Gardner responded with a lead-off home run to left center, cutting the deficit to two in the bottom of the first (3-1).
• In the bottom of the third inning, Courtney Paolantonio took the first pitch of her at-bat to deep left field (3-2).
• Madison Fitzgerald hit a leadoff single, which was followed by a double to center field from Hannah Cochran to begin the bottom of the fourth inning. Trystan Salvador then grounded out to second base advancing the runners and scoring Fitzgerald (3-3). Ava Paganis then sent a ball to center field for the sacrifice fly, giving the Black and Gold their first lead of the game (4-3).
• The game concluded in the sixth inning due to rain.

Stats 

• Gardner hit a leadoff home run.
• Courtney Paolantonio went 1-2 with a solo home run.
• Fitzgerald and Cochran both got their first career hits as Bulldogs.
• Salavdor and Paganis tallied an RBI.
• Kenney went five innings, striking out three.

Notes

• This is the Black and Gold's first season-opening victory since 2015.
• Gardner hit her fifth career home run.
• Courtney Paolantonio recorded her sixth career home run.
• Kenney now has 117 strikeouts as a Bulldog.