SMITHFIELD, R.I. – A five-run seventh inning performance helped the Bryant University softball team to its first victory of the season, as they took down North Carolina State University, 8-5, on Sunday afternoon in Raleigh.

After three scoreless innings, the Bulldogs (1-20) took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth. With no outs and runners on second and third, junior Mallory Harrigan (Albany, N.Y.) and senior Hayley Bottino (Canyon Country, Calif.) scored off a throwing error by the Wolfpack's (15-14) second baseman. Bryant pushed the margin to three, after freshman Jill Staley's (Lake Katrine, N.Y.) base hit up the middle plated sophomore Rachel Monroe (Southwick, Mass.).

The Bulldogs maintained their 3-0 lead until Tyler Ross's three-run homer tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Later in the inning with two outs, Meredith Burroughs flied out to left field, allowing Molly Hutchinson to run in for the Wolfpack's go-ahead run to make it 4-3.

Heading into the seventh with a one-run deficit, the Bulldogs stepped up to the plate, as senior Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) found her first homer of the season, hammering it to center field, as Bryant reclaimed the lead, 6-4. With one out, Monroe helped the Bulldogs put the game away with a two-run homer to right field to end the top of the seventh with a Bryant four-run advantage, 8-4.

The Bryant defense held steady, as Lana Van Dyken flied out to left field for the first out, before Madsen struck out Ross swinging for the second out in the final inning. With the bases loaded, Maggie Hawkins singled to left field, closing the gap to three, 8-5. Madsen then struck out Hannah Sommer swinging, recording the final out and helping the Bulldogs to their first win of the season as they took it 8-5.

Bottino pitched the first five innings for the Bulldogs, giving up two runs off three hits, while striking out three batters on the day. Recording her first win of the season, freshman Colby Norris (Toano, Va.) allowed two runs off two hits in her one inning on the mound. Madsen struck out the final two batters and gave up only a single run off two hits in the final inning.

Burroughs let up eight runs off 10 hits, while striking out two Bulldogs in her 6.1 innings on the mound. Courtney Mirabella checked in on the mound in the last 0.2 innings, allowing a single hit.