SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore pitcher Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) pitched a pair of absolute gems vs. Mount St. Mary's to lead the Bryant University softball team to its first-ever Northeast Conference Regular Season Title, Friday afternoon at Conaty Park.

Madsen allowed just one run on five hits in 14 innings of work in a doubleheader sweep of the Mountaineers (19-20-1, 7-5 NEC), earning her single-season record setting 21st win of the year en route to the Bulldogs' (27-18, 13-3 Northeast Conference) NEC Regular Season Crown. With the wins, the Black and Gold also earn the right to host the NEC Tournament on May 8-10.

"I could not be more proud of the way they came out and played today," said Bryant head coach Shayne Lotito. "They had it in their minds that they wanted to win both games, they were determined and focused and did not let anything get in their way."

Game 1

In the first leg of the double dip, both Madsen and Mount hurler Nicole Pagano dominated most of the contest, but it was the Bulldogs who squeaked out a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure the 2-0 victory.

In the fifth, senior catcher Kendall Corder (Carmichael, Calif.) got things started with a base hit to left field, her second of two hits in the game. After the second Bulldog out advanced Corder to second base, junior center fielder Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) laced a double the left field line to score Corder and break the 1-0 tie. Madsen stepped up next and followed suit in almost the exact same location to double the Bryant edge, putting the Black and Gold up 2-0.

The two runs were all the sophomore hurler needed as Madsen was tremendous from start to finish, allowing only three baserunners in seven scoreless innings.

Game 2

The second game of the afternoon brought more of the same from the pitching circle, but it was Bryant who got the better of Pagano again, clinching the conference regular season title with a 4-1 win.

Determined not let Madsen have her way, the Mountaineers showed signs of life right from the get-go, capitalizing on an early Bulldog miscue to take a 1-0 lead.

However, the Black and Gold wasted little time responding as Madsen helped herself with a two-run laser beam to center field, scoring Corder and putting the Bulldogs up, 2-1.

After the first inning, Madsen was nearly unhittable and she continued to stymie Mount hitters from top to bottom to earn her program record setting 21st win of the year.

"Elle [Madsen] is the backbone of this team," added Lotito. "Everyone rallies around her when she is on the circle. She decided to put the team on her back and she has done just that throughout the entire year."

Bryant went on to add a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to base hits from Lauren Guy (La Habra, Calif.), Kristen Carter (Branchville, N.J.), and Corder.

On what turned out to be quite the record-setting afternoon, the Black and Gold also set the Division I program mark for wins in a season (27), breaking the previous mark of 25 set in 2011. Looking ahead, Bryant will stay in Smithfield for five more non-conference games to close the regular season before hosting the NEC Tournament in two weeks. First up is Stony Brook, who will come to Conaty Park for a doubleheader on Senior Day, Sunday at 12 and 2 p.m.

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