SMITHFIELD, R.I. – In a pair of tightly contested games, the Bryant University softball team split Day 2 at the USF Spring Break Tournament, falling to Wisconsin-Green Bay, 3-1, before topping St. Joseph's, 2-1, Saturday evening in Clearwater, Fla.

Game 1

In the first leg of the doubleheader, the Phoenix jumped out on Bryant starter Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) in the bottom of the second inning, scoring a pair, to take a 2-0 lead after two innings.

In the next half inning, the Bulldogs responded when back-to-back hits from Liana Ogata (Tustin, Calif.) and Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.) set up junior outfielder Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) who lined an RBI double up the middle to cut the deficit in half, 2-1.

Madsen eventually settled down, shutting out Green Bay over the next three innings, however the Black and Gold could not capitalize on their opportunities, eventually falling 3-1. Madsen was solid in her ninth start of the season, allowing three runs on eight hits in seven innings of work.

Game 2

In the second game of the night, sophomore Katelin Saunders (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) was once again terrific in her second-straight start, allowing just one run and no walks on ten hits in seven innings en route to the 2-1 victory over St. Joseph's.

Bryant wasted little time getting on the board as Madsen got things going with a leadoff walk in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman Alexandra Page (Grafton, Mass.), who was brought on to pinch run for Madsen, was then advanced to second on a Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.) sacrifice bunt, setting up senior Taylor Bell (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) for yet another huge RBI double to give Bryant the early 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third, St. Joe's answered right back when a leadoff triple turned into the game-tying run. Just one half inning later, senior Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) laid down a beautiful bunt to reach base just before a Madsen two-out single put runners on first and second. With Mable at second, the Hawks attempted a pickoff play but a miscommunication and an overthrow allowed the senior shortstop to steal third and home, scoring the eventual game-winning run.

Saunders took care of the rest for the Bulldogs as the Black and Gold improve to 3-1 overall in the USF Tourney with just one game vs. Seton Hall on Sunday (11:15 a.m.) remaining.

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