May 8, 2008

#6 Bryant Pushed to Brink of Elimination by 9-1 loss to #2 Le Moyne

BOX SCORE

Brookville, NY - Le Moyne's Caitlin O'Neil's two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the fifth sparked a three run rally to lead #2 Le Moyne past #6 Bryant 9-1 Thursday afternoon in the NCAA Tournament's Northeast Regional.

The two out rally off Bryant ace Janine Enos (Wareham, Mass.), making a rare relief appearance, leads the Dolphins to the final game of the winner's bracket and moves Bryant to the loser's bracket. O'Neil's double came one batter after Northeast-10 Player of the Year Sarah Reed knocked a two-out double. Kelly Schweikert's single brought in another run a batter later.

The Dolphins set the tempo early after starting pitcher Reed set the Bulldogs down in order and the Le Moyne offense jumped on Bryant starter Samantha Houseal (Mount Joy, PA) for an early run. However, the freshman was able to wiggle out of a 1-out, bases loaded jam by inducing an infield pop up and a comebacker to her to end the frame, but was relieved by Enos an inning later.

The Bulldogs managed a run in the top of the second when designated player Stephanie Mirando (North Haven, CT) lined a double over the left fielder's head to score Anne Dobmeier (Buffalo, NY).

Reed and Enos would trade zeros over the next two three innings before the Dolphins took their 4-1 lead in the fifth.

The best chance the Bulldogs had to take the lead came in the top of the fifth, when the Bulldogs had Regi Burdo (Wayne, PA) at second with one out. But Dolphin reliever Jennifer Farrelly worked out of trouble to set the frame for the Dolphin's big fifth inning.

Farrelly would shut down the Bulldogs from there on in to collect the win and a sloppy Bryant inning in the bottom of the sixth brought in five more Le Moyne runs to enact the 8-run mercy rule. The Bulldogs committed four errors and committed a passed ball in the frame.

The meeting was the fifth between the teams this year, with Le Moyne taking five of the wins.

The loss moves Bryant into the loser's bracket where they will face New Haven Saturday at 9am. The game is scheduled for 9am, but the weather that delayed today's game over two hours is expected to affect play on Friday. Stay posted on game times by checking BryantBulldogs.com.