SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind a five-hit afternoon from junior centerfielder Madeline Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.), the Bryant University softball team split a doubelehader vs. Albany, winning Game 1, 11-9, before dropping Game 2, 14-7, Wednesday at Conaty Park.

Game 1

In Game 1, the Bulldogs (19-14, 5-1 Northeast Conference) opened up an early 4-0 lead after two innings, highlighted by a trio of RBI knocks and a sacrifice fly. Albany (16-9, 5-3 America East) answered back in the top of the third on an RBI double from Charlise Castro, cutting the deficit to just three, 4-1.

Bryant added another run in the bottom of the fourth, before the Great Danes put up four runs in the top of the fifth, knotting the score, 5-5. In the bottom half of the fifth, the Bulldogs capitalized on a pair of Albany miscues to push ahead, 7-5, after five.

The Black and Gold tacked on two more in the bottom of the sixth on a Velasquez two-run double to center, to put the hosts up, 9-5. In Albany's last chance for a run, the Great Danes answered the call scoring four runs in the top of the seventh inning, highlighted by a Kayla Bailey two-run triple, to knot the score, 9-9.

In the bottom of the seventh, senior Taylor Bell (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) led off the inning with a base hit to right field, setting up senior outfielder Kristen Carter (Branchville, N.J.) who blasted a two-run walk off homerun to center field, lifting the Bulldogs to the dramatic 11-9 victory.

"Offensively, Kristen [Carter] and Aubrey [Mable] led the way," said Bryant head coach Shayne Lotito. "Their efforts and strong hitting kept us in the game, igniting the rest of the lineup to fight 'til the very end to secure the victory."

Carter paced the Bulldogs at the dish, going 4-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and three runs scored, while senior shortstop Aubrey Mable (Aurora, Colo.) added three hits, an RBI and two runs.

Sophomore Hayley Bottino (Canyon Country, Calif.) started the game for Bryant, allowing five runs on eight hits to go along with four strikeouts in five innings of work, while classmate Katelin Saunders (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) picked up her fifth win of the year, allowing four runs on four hits in two innings of relief.

Game 2

In the second leg of the doubleheader, the Great Danes were out for revenge, exploding four three runs in the top of the first inning. In the bottom half of the finning, the Bulldogs took back one of the runs when sophomore Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) picked up her first of four hits in the contest, lacing a two-out double to right center to score Velasquez.

Albany went on to add five more runs in the top of the second highlighted by back-to-back jacks from Casto and Marlin Solano, increasing their lead to seven runs, 8-1. In the bottom of the inning, Bryant pushed another score across the plate when sophomore second baseman Liana Ogata (Tustin, Calif.) laced an RBI single to center, scoring Amy Weinberg (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.).

The Black and Gold went back to work in the bottom of the second when a pair of homers, a solo shot from Mable and Madsen's Northeast Conference leading and Bryant single-season HR record-tying 10th homer of the year, quickly cut the Albany lead to three runs, 8-5, after three innings.

The visitors, however, would not allow for the comeback as they kept attacking, adding a run in both the top of the fourth and fifth inning, pushing the margin to five runs, 10-5. In the bottom of the fifth, Freshmen Emily Bouthillette (Lincoln R.I.) and Haylee Haas (Moorpark, Calif.) each picked up RBI knocks to bring the Bulldogs back within three runs, 10-7, after five full.

However, Albany would not let up, pushing four more runs across in their final two at bats while holding the Bulldogs scoreless en route to the 14-7 victory and doubleheader split.

"Although Maddi [Velasquez], Aubrey [Mable] and Elle [Madsen] had another great showing at the plate, our offense as a whole was just unable to pull off the comeback victory," added Lotito.

Madsen was nearly perfect in Game 2 at in the batter's box, going 4-for-4 with a homerun, two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored, while Velasquez topped off an impressive afternoon with three hits and three runs score.

Freshman Lauren Keast (Holliston, Mass.) made her first start in the circle for the Black and Gold, allowing six runs (two earned) on three hits and four walks in 1.1 innings, while Bottino allowed eight runs (five earned) on 10 hits and four walks in 5.2 innings out of the bullpen.

"Although these midweek games are nice to get some other players some looks in the lineup," stated Lotito. "It is important for us to get back to work and fine tune some things for this weekend."

The Bulldogs have another jam packed weekend with a pair of NEC doubleheaders, first at Sacred Heart on Saturday, before hosting Central Connecticut in Smithfield on Sunday.

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