March 09, 2010
BULLDOGS BATTLE BUT
FALL SHORT IN BOTH GAMES TUESDAY
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant
University softball team played hard in both matchups Tuesday in
Orlando, but fell just short in each as they dropped both games of
the doubleheader by a combined total of three runs at the annual
Rebel Spring Games.
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Freshman Kate Murray was
2-6 with 4 RBIs on day three
of the Rebel Games
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Bryant (1-10) opened day three of the
Rebel Spring Games with a matchup against the Ivy League affiliate,
University of Pennsylvania (2-4) at 9 a.m. The Bulldogs got on the
board first in the bottom of the third inning. Third baseman
Regina Burdo (Wayne, Pa.) got the action started
with a single through the left side of the infield in the bottom of
the frame. Sophomore Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.)
reached base on a throwing error by the Quakers' second
baseman and was able to advance to second base. Burdo moved over to
third on the error. Freshman outfielder Kate Murray
(Fitchburg, Mass.) hit a double to center field in the
next at-bat to plate both Burdo and Bowen and give the Bulldogs a
2-0 lead after three innings of play.
It didn't take long for the Quakers to respond as they got
both runs back in the top of the fourth. Penn's catcher
Alisha Prystowsky led off the inning with a single through the left
side and scored on a triple in the next Penn at bat. Freshman
pitcher Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.)
struck out the next batter but gave up a single to the next batter
to tie the game at two apiece.
Penn picked up one run in the top of the sixth to make it 3-2
and held the Bulldogs scoreless over the final two frames to earn
its second win of the 2010 season.
Hart pitched a complete game, allowing three earned runs and
striking out seven.
Murray, Burdo, tri-captain Ashley Coon (Levittown,
Pa.) and freshman Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park,
N.Y.) had one hit apiece for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs played Atlantic-10 member, La Salle University
(1-1), in the second game of doubleheader action Tuesday. The
Explorers jumped out to the early 1-0 lead over the Bulldogs after
two innings of play.
Bryant took the lead in the top of the third inning as sophomore
Lindsay Martin (Methuen, Mass.) led off the frame
with a single. Burdo laid down a successful sacrifice bunt in the
next Bryant at-bat, which moved Martin into scoring position. Bowen
followed Burdo with a single to put runners on the corners with
freshman Kate Murray coming up next. Murray was able to get a bat
on the ball and double for the Black and Gold, plating both base
runners and giving BU the 2-1 advantage. Murray was 1-3 with two
RBIs.
The Explorers responded quickly with one run in the bottom of
the frame to tie things up at 2 apiece.
The Bulldogs retook the lead in the top of the fifth inning when
freshman Christina Eringis (Tewksbury, Mass.) led
off the inning with her first career home run. The team's
first home run of the 2010 season gave them a 3-2 lead over La
Salle. Eringis was 1-2 on the day.
The Explorers got to starting pitcher Sami Houseal
(Mount Joy, Pa.) in the fifth inning and tallied three
runs to take a 5-3 lead. The Bulldogs brought in Cocco to finish
things off. The freshman threw 2.2 scoreless innings but Bryant
could not find any more magic in their bats and were unable to get
back on the scoreboard again as they fell 5-3 in the second game of
the doubleheader Tuesday.
The squad has Wednesday off and will continue the Rebel Games on
Thursday with a doubleheader starting at 9 a.m. The Bulldogs play
Indiana State in first game and Youngstown State in the latter.
