SOFTBALL HOSTS QUINNIPIAC SAT. (2/4 P.M.) AND ROBERT MORRIS SUN. FOR SENIOR DAY (12/2 P.M.)
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Currently riding a four-game win streak, the Bryant University softball team will look to close out Northeast Conference play on a winning note when they welcome a pair of league opponents to Smithfield over the weekend, hosting Quinnipiac on Saturday (2/4 p.m.) and Robert Morris on Sunday for Senior Day (12/2 p.m.).
The Bulldogs enter weekend action with an 18-20 overall mark, 7-9 in the NEC. Currently on a four-game win streak, the Black and Gold have not dropped a game in over a week. Most recently, the Bulldogs squeaked out a seventh-inning comeback at Boston University, 4-3, avenging a loss to the Terriers earlier this season. Senior Jennifer Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.) was terrific in her 11th start of the year, allowing just three runs in seven innings for her third victory this season. Juniors Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) and Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) both put together huge afternoons, combining for five of Bryant's eight hits, while scoring three runs and driving in a pair.
Over the last four games, Guy and Mable have been absolutely on fire, combining for 13 hits and a .500 average. During the win streak, Guy is hitting .636 with seven hits, eight runs scored, a homeruns and a pair of RBI. Even more impressive, the junior outfielder is getting on base 75 percent of the time she steps up to the plate, while Mable's .415 season batting average is tops in the NEC. In the pitching circle, freshman Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) has compiled a 3-0 mark over the last four, allowing just five runs in 15.2 innings pitched (2.23 era).
Quinnipiac enters the weekend with a 15-27 overall record, 8-4 against NEC opponents (5th place). Most recently, the Bobcats earned a 4-0 extra innings victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in Hamden, Conn. on Saturday. Freshman outfielder Courtney Solt leads her team with a .368 average, collecting a team-best 53 hits and 31 runs scored. Sophomore infielder Nikki Barba ranks second on Quinnipiac with a .350 batting average, while classmate Jordan Paolucci paces the team in the power categories with 11 homeruns and 40 RBI (both tops in the NEC). In the circle, the Bobcats have three pitchers who have seen significant action with sophomore Hannah Lindsley leading the way with 99.1 innings and in 18 starts. Last season, the Bulldogs dropped a pair in Hamden and will be out for revenge this time around.
On Sunday, the Bulldogs will welcome Robert Morris to town for Senior Day doubleheader (12/2 p.m.) in Smithfield. The NEC-leading Colonials enter weekend action boasting a 24-12-1 record, 10-2 in the NEC. Robert Morris is led by freshman Ashley Gerhart who comes into the weekend with a .349 average and team best 38 hits, while classmate Haileigh Stocks leads the Colonials in the power categories with six homeruns and 21 RBI. Sophomore Nicole Sleith enters the weekend posting one of the best era's in the conference, allowing just 1.52 runs per seven innings, with a 14-5 record in 129.1 innings. Last season, the Bulldogs split a doubleheader with Robert Morris in Moon Township, Pa.
For links to live stats of weekend action and all the latest news on the Bryant University softball team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.
