May 10, 2008 

#6 BULLDOG SOFTBALL ENDS SEASON WITH 5-1 LOSS TO NEW HAVEN AT NCAA NORTHEAST REGIONALS 

Boxscore 

Seniors Jessica Valentini, Jennifer Serrano and Janine Enos (above) graduate from Bryant as the most successful class in program history.

BROOKVILLE, NY - The #6 Bryant University Bulldogs were unable to hold an early lead, and fell, 5-1, to #8 New Haven in the NCAA Northeast Softball Regional championships.

The Bulldogs got to Chargers ace Breanne Gleason in the first, plating a run on Stephanie Mirando's (North Haven, CT) single through the infield to score Ali Chouinard (Swansea, Mass.).                                                                                                      

But the Bulldog lead was short lived, as the Chargers broke through on Bryant ace Janine Enos (Wareham, Mass.) in the top of the second, when Chelsea Harold beat out a two-out infield hit to score Meg Brown. An inning later, Nicole Downs knocked an opposite-field home run to give New Haven a 2-1 lead. 

The Chargers were able to tack on three unearned insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth to make the lead 5-1. The Bulldogs were able to manage a scoring opportunity in the sixth, putting two runners in scoring position before Gleason worked out of the jam. 

Enos (20-7) took the loss in her final career start. Her 20 victories are the new single-season Bulldog record. She leaves Bryant as the finest pitcher in program history with a 55-29 career record and the program record for strikeouts.

The loss ends one of the most successful seasons in school history for the Bulldog program and the final one for Bryant in Division II. The Bulldogs finish the season 30-16 and will move to a Division I schedule next spring. 

Saturday's loss was also the final game for 2008 graduating seniors Jessica Valentini (Cliffside Park, NJ), Jennifer Serrano (Stoneham, Mass.) and Enos. The Class of 2008 leaves as the winningest in program history.