Bulldogs Sweep Merrimack In Thrilling Fashion Tuesday

SMITHFIELD, RI – Holly McCarthy's (Framingham, Mass.) two out, two-run single helped lead the Bryant University softball team to sweep of Northeast-10 Conference foe Merrimack College by scores of 8-0 and 2-1 in a double header played today at the Bryant Softball Complex.

McCarthy's game-winning hit came in the bottom of seventh of game two as Bryant (14-10, 11-1 NE-10) entered the inning trailing 1-0 and recording just one hit off Merrimack starter (8-12, 4-4 NE-10) Kelly Knox.

Amanda Gagne (Wilbraham, Mass.) led off the inning with a walk and would move up to second following a single from Deidre Kittredge (Worcester, Mass.). The Warriors would make it interesting by retiring the next two Bulldog batters but McCarthy completed the comback with a game-winning base hit to score Gagne to tie the game 1-1 and pinch runner Lauren Friedrich (Brookfield, Conn.) for the win.

Nikki Ingalls (Westford, Mass.) got the win for Bryant in game two going seven innings allowing one unearned run on six hits and striking out two. Knox took the hard-luck loss going 6 2/3 allowing two runs on only three hits with three strikeouts.

The Bulldogs took the opener, 8-0 in five innings. Brianna Durborow (Ringoes, NJ ) helped stake the Bulldogs to an early lead with an RBI double that scored Amanda Wilbur (Lakeville, Mass.) while Carly Muise (Hanson, Mass.) singled to score McCarthy.

Bryant would add two more in the third and fifth before scoring four in the sixth to end the game. Wilbur's leadoff home run highlighted the inning for the Bulldogs.   

Janine Enos (Wareham, Mass.) got the win for Bryant, pitching a shutout allowing just four Merrimack hits and striking out three. Lauren Otto took the loss for Merrimack allowing eight runs on eight hits and striking out one.

On the day Kittredge went 4-for5 with two RBIs and McCarthy went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

Bryant will return to action tomorrow when they travel to Saint Anselm for a Norhteast-10 doubleheader set for 3:00 PM.