SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After getting rained out over the weekend, the Bryant University softball team opens a busy five-game work week starting with a doubleheader vs. UMass Lowell on Tuesday in Smithfield (2/4 p.m.).
Coming off a tough loss to Boston College on Thursday, the 10-12 Bulldogs will look to get back on track when they welcome first-year Division I foe UMass Lowell to Conaty Park on Tuesday for a 2/4 p.m. doubleheader, before opening Northeast Conference play at Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday (1/3 p.m.). The Black and Gold will wrap up the business week with a short bus ride to Providence for a 4 p.m. clash with Brown on Thursday.
Last time out, sophomore infielder Liana Ogata (Tustin, Calif.) collected a career-high three hits in three at bats and classmate Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) extended her team-leading hit streak to 10 games with her seventh homerun of the season, but it was not enough as Boston College took down the Bulldogs, 6-3, behind a pair of three-run shots from Tatiana Cortez.
On Tuesday, Bryant will welcome UMass Lowell to Smithfield for a mid-week doubleheader (2 and 4 p.m.). The Riverhawks enter Tuesday's contest with a 4-15 overall record, 0-2 in the America East in its first season of their transition to become a full Division I institution. Sophomore outfielder Brianna Martin leads her team with a .339 average with 20 hits, including four doubles and nine RBI, while classmate Marielle Handley handles the majority of the pitching duties, posting a 4.67 ERA in 54 innings. Most recently, UMass dropped a pair games to conference-foe Maine on Saturday.
The following day, Bryant will ship off to Teaneck, N.J., for its first NEC action of 2014 at Fairleigh Dickinson (1/3 p.m.). The Knights enter Wednesday's doubleheader with a 7-12 overall record coming off a pair of losses at Manhattan on Thursday. Junior infielder Angelique Nieves leads FDU with a .358 average on 19 hits, including six doubles, 10 RBI and seven runs scored. Junior Megan Reiner and sophomore Loren Stavrou have combined for nearly 80 innings this season with Reiner posting a 2.25 ERA and a team-leading 5-3 record. Last season, Bryant split a pair in Teaneck, taking Game 1, 8-1, behind homers from Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) and Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) before dropping the second leg of the doubleheader, 3-1.
The Black and Gold will wrap up the work week with a trip to Providence for a 4 p.m. showdown with Brown. The Bears enter Thursday's contest with a 2-15 overall mark looking to snap a 12-game losing streak dating back to March 7. Freshman outfielder Casey Fisher is off a tremendous rookie campaign, hitting a team-best .340 with 17 hits and four RBI, while classmate Christina Andrews ranks second on the team with a .327 average to go along with two homers and seven RBI. Junior Jessica Cherness handles the majority of the pitching duties, posting a 4.25 ERA in eight starts this season. Last year the Bulldogs picked up a pair of convincing victories of their intrastate rivals, behind a combined five-hit effort from Mable.
After their tilt vs. Brown, the Black and Gold will have just a day before hosting a pair of NEC doubleheaders, Saturday vs. Wagner (1/3 p.m.) and Sunday vs. LIU Brooklyn (12/2 p.m.).
For the complete schedule and all the latest news on the Bryant University softball team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.
