TWO COME-FROM-BEHIND VICTORIES EARN BULLDOGS SWEEP AT ALBANY WEDNESDAY

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – A pair of clutch performances by the Bryant University softball team earn the Bulldogs a two-game sweep of Albany, Wednesday afternoon.

Game 1

Finding themselves down, 1-0, after three innings of play in Albany, N.Y., the Bulldogs exploded for eight runs in the final four innings, highlighted by a Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) grand slam in the top of the fifth inning, propelling the Black and Gold to an 8-3 Game 1 victory.

Senior Brittany Hart (North Andover, Mass.) was dominant in her 15 start of the season, allowing just one earned run on seven hits to go along with five strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Reigning NEC Player and Rookie of the Week Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) and Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) got things started in the top of the fourth inning when the Colorado duo went back-to-back with a pair of solo homeruns to give Bryant the 2-1 lead after four. Just one inning later, Velasquez blasted her second homer of the year to center field with the bases loaded to extend the Bulldogs lead to five runs.

Bryant added a run in the top of the sixth off a Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) single and another in the top of the seventh when freshman Mollie Anderson (East Greenwich, R.I.) struck a solo-shot over the left field fence.

The Great Danes were able to capitalize off a Bryant error in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs, but the Bulldogs held on for the 8-3 win.

Game 2

The Black and Gold once again found themsevles down, 1-0, early on, however a Kate Murray (Fitchburg, Mass.) three-run homerun in the top of the third inning put the Bulldogs on top, 3-1, after three and half.

The Great Danes answered in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of run to even the score, 3-3, after three full innings of play. The hosts added two more in the bottom of the sixth to regain the advantage, 5-3, but the Bulldogs would not go away quietly.

Bryant was able to capitalize on some costly Albany errors in the top of the seventh. First, junior Alicia Mosesso (Abington, Mass.) scored on a wild pitch to cut the defecit to just one run. Velasquez then singles to center field, driving home Corder, to even the score at 5-5. Just one batter later, Mable reached on fielder's choice, but drove home classmate Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) in the process to put Bryant up 6-5, where they would hold on for the victory.

Madsen allowed five runs in seven innings, picking up a career-high eight K's in her fifth-straight win. The Bulldogs accumulated just three hits in Game 2, but some crafty baserunning and timely hitting allowed Bryant to win its eighth game in nine chances.

The Bulldogs will continue their six-game road stint with a trip to LIU Brooklyn on Saturday (1/3 p.m.)

For all the latest news on the Bryant University softball team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.