SOFTBALL HITS ROAD FOR TRIO, AT BROWN WED., AND AT BU THURS. (ALL 4 P.M. STARTS)
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off a pair of huge one-run wins over Sacred Heart on Saturday, the Bryant University softball team will look to build on its recent success with back-to-back road games at Brown on Wednesday (4 p.m.) and at Boston University on Thursday (4 p.m.)
The Bulldogs enter the week with a 16-20 overall record, 7-9 against Northeast Conference opponents (good for sixth place). Coming off two tough loses against BU and UConn earlier in the week, the Bulldogs rallied for a pair of comeback victories over Sacred Heart in Smithfield on Sunday.
In game 1, reigning NEC Rookie of the Week Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) shouldered much of the load for the Black and Gold, throwing seven solid innings (allowing just two runs) and blasting a three-run homerun en route to a 3-2 victory. In Game 2, senior Kate Murray (Fitchburg, Mass.) delivered a pair of clutch RBI-singles, tying the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, before winning it in walk off fashion in the bottom of the 11th for a 4-3 win.
Over the last four games, junior Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) has been on an absolute tear, collecting eight hits in 13 at bats for a .615 average (.688 on-base percentage). Guy has collected a pair of homers, drove in three and scored five runs as well over the last four contests. Guys nine homeruns this season is the most all-time in Bryant's five year Division I history and ranks second in program history (Amanda Wilbur 10, 2007). Madsen has also been on fire, hitting .333 (4-for-12) with a .500 obp to go along with two homers and seven RBI. Madsen has been a dominant force on the mound as well, going 2-0 with a 1.62 era in 8.2 innings. The rookie sensation leads the Bryant pitching staff this season in wins (8), era (3.24), strikeouts (42) and saves (2).
On Wednesday, the Bulldogs will head to Brown for a rematch with the Bears. Earlier this month Bryant bested its intrastate-foe, 10-1, behind back-to-back jacks from senior Christina Eringis (Tewksbury, Mass.) and sophomore Jessica Benacquista (Belleville, N.J.) in the bottom of the fourth inning. Brown enters Wednesday's contest with an 8-25 overall record (2-14 Ivy League), coming off a 5-4 win over Harvard on Sunday. Senior infielder Stephanie Thompson leads the bears with a .354 average, while sophomore third baseman Trista Chavez ranks first in the power categories with six homers and 21 RBI.
The Black and Gold will close out weekday action with a trip to Boston University on Thursday (4 p.m.). On April 16, the Terriers visited Smithfield in an emotional afternoon of softball, but despite the adversity, BU pulled out an 8-6 victory. Currently riding a five-game win streak, the Terriers enter the week with a 17-20-1 overall record (5-4 in the America East). Junior Jayme Mask paces BU with a .380 batting average, while classmate Amy Ekart ranks second with a .324 BA to go along with a team-best four homeruns and 19 RBI. Senior Whitney Tuthill hands the majority of the pitching duties for the Terriers, logging 162.1 innings for a 13-11 record and a 2.33 era in 30 appearances this season.
With just sevengames remaining on its 2013 regular season slate, Bryant will look to close its first year of full Division I eligibility on a high note.
For links to live stats and streaming video of this week's action and all the latest news on the Bryant University softball team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.
