SOFTBALL PREPS FOR DOUBLEHEADER SATURDAY VS. SACRED HEART (2/4 P.M.)

Smithfield, R.I.- The Bryant University softball team will welcome Sacred Heart to Smithfield for an afternoon doubleheader Saturday at the Softball Complex at Conaty Park (2/4 p.m.).

After dropping their last three outings, the Bulldogs (14-20, 5-9 Northeast Conference) look to get back on track with a pair of victories on Saturday against the tough Pioneers. Junior shortstop Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) is putting together one of the finest seasons in program history, currently ranking second in the NEC in batting average, hitting .412 (42-for-102) through 34 games.  Freshman Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) has had a tremendous impact for the Bulldogs both at the plate, and on the mound. On the season, Madsen has accumulated a 6-6 record, racking up 36 strikeouts in 62.2 innings pitched. In the last three games, the Bryant clean-up hitter has collected four hits including a 3-run homerun and four RBI.

On Tuesday, Bryant ran into a persistent Boston University team that resulted in an 8-6 loss, while on Wednesday, UConn answered an early Bryant lead by putting up four runs on in the fourth inning alone en route to a 5-2 victory.

The Pioneers (20-20, 4-8 NEC) look  to extend  their win streak to three games on Saturday after sweeping Yale in New Haven, Conn., Wednesday afternoon. Senior Nicole Sidor leads the Pioneers with a .383 average, collecting a team-best 49 hits to go along with six homers and 30 RBI. Junior Annie Dreher paces Sacred Heart in the power categories with eight homeruns and 30 RBI as well. In addition to her prowess at the plate, Sidor shoulders much of the pitching load as well, posting a 1.46 era in 139 innings this season. Last year in Fairfield, Conn., the Bulldogs picked up a huge two-game sweep of the Pioneers as they look to do the same on Saturday.

For links to live stats and streaming video of Saturday's doubleheader and all the latest news on the Bryant University softball team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.