April 24, 2010

Box Score #1 / Box Score #2 / Bryantbulldogs.tv

BULLDOGS BATTLE BUT FALL SHORT AGAINST TOP-RANKED LIU SATURDAY

SUNDAY'S SENIOR DAY DOUBLEHEADER MOVED TO 11 AM

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite a great outing for junior tri-captain Sami Houseal (Mount Joy, Pa.) in game one of Saturday's doubleheader, the Bryant University softball team was unable to upset the Northeast Conference's top-ranked Long Island University at the Bryant Softball Complex. The Blackbirds came from behind in both games to win 3-1 and 8-3, respectively.

The Bulldogs drop to 7-32 on the season and 4-11 in the NEC, while the Blackbirds improve to 26-14 and 11-2 in the league.

It took Houseal a bit to settle down in the first game Saturday afternoon as she opened the action by hitting LIU's Bianca Mejia and allowing a single to Mariesha Marker in the next at bat. The 5-10 right-hander battled back in the top of the frame to strike out LIU's Brynn Lewis for the first out of the inning, and with runners on second and third and two outs, Houseal won a long battle over Sterling Hoham for her second K of the game.  

After allowing one hit in the top of the first, the Pennsylvania native made herself at home over the course of the next four innings holding the Blackbirds hitless.

Houseal was helped by stellar defense behind her including this double play between sophomore Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) and senior shortstop Ali Chouinard (Swansea, Mass.). Chouinard had four assists and two putouts in game one while Bowen tallied two put outs and one assist.   

After four and a half innings of scoreless play, the Bulldogs got on the board first in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Lauren McCart (Voorhees, N.J.) led off the inning with a walk, and classmate Lindsay Martin (Methuen, Mass.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her into scoring position. Following a Regi Burdo (Wayne, Pa.) strikeout, the red-hot Bowen doubled down the left field line to plate McCart for the game's first run.

Down 1-0 heading into the top of the sixth inning, Long Island got a rally going with back-to-back singles by Mejia and Marker to lead off the inning. Mejia, who went 2-3 in game one, scored on a passed ball to level the game at one apiece.

The top-ranked Blackbirds added two runs in the top of the seventh inning, the game-winner on an Emily Kakuska double, and held the Bulldogs scoreless in the bottom of the frame to secure the come-from-behind 3-1 victory over the Black and Gold.

Houseal pitched a complete-game six-hitter, allowing just two earned runs, one walk and six strikeouts.

LIU's Blaire Porter improved her record to 19-5 on the season with the win. Porter is the NEC's leader in the wins category. She pitched a complete-game four-hitter and struck out eight.

Bowen was 2-3 with the lone RBI for the Bulldogs in the contest, while seniors Chouinard and Coon each had singles of their own.

Bryant took advantage of some Long Island miscues in the bottom of the first as the Bulldogs scored three runs on three hits and two errors. Coon plated the first run of the game for the Black and Gold with a frozen-rope double to center field to score freshman Kate Murray (Fitchburg, Mass.). BU followed up with two unearned runs later in the innings to take the early 3-0 lead.

The Blackbirds came back once again to score two runs in the top of the third and fourth innings and take a 4-3 lead after four innings of play.

Bryant centerfielder Lindsay Martin held the Blackbirds to just one run in the top of the fifth inning with this over-the-shoulder catch off a Majia line-drive.

Holding a 5-3 lead entering the seventh inning, Long Island added three insurance runs on a three-run homer to left center field by second baseman Brynn Lewis. With the long ball the Blackbirds took an 8-3 lead.

The Bulldogs were able to load the bases in the bottom half of the seventh inning, but Long Island's Blaire Porter was able to pitch out of the jam, allowing no runs, and earn her NEC-leading 20th win of the season.

Porter pitched five innings in relief, allowing just two hits, no runs and striking out four.

BU's Jen Jacob (Deer Park, N.Y.) took the loss in the outing. Brittany Lischinsky (Mahopac, N.Y.), the NEC's Rookie of the Week, was 2-3 on the day while Murray went 2-4 at the plate. Once again, Coon and Chouinard each added one hit apiece.

LIU's one, two and three batters went a combined 9-13 at the plate, scoring six runs and contributing six RBIs.  

The Black and Gold's senior day doubleheader matchup with Monmouth University that was originally scheduled for 12 p.m. Sunday has now been changed to 11 a.m. due to the chance of afternoon rain. The Bulldogs will be honoring its three seniors, Ali Chouinard, Ashley Coon and Kim Leonard after the game in the Heritage Room on the first floor of the Bryant Center.

The doubleheader with the Hawks can be seen live on bryantbulldogs.tv.