SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After dropping game one, 4-1, junior Taylor Burger's (Killingworth, Conn.) pair of home runs helped the Bryant University softball team to a 5-1 victory in game two over LIU Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon at Conaty Park.

Game One

The Blackbirds (13-23, 2-2) managed to score four runs in the top of the third, taking a 4-0 lead over the Bulldogs (3-25, 2-2 NEC). LIU loaded the bases after Alyssa Gospodarek, who was replaced by Alyssa Lanktree as the pinch runner, doubled to left field, Kayla Gloady singled to left center and then stole second and Karlie Brady singled. With no outs and three runners on, senior Elle Madsen (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) walked Whitney West, forcing Lanktree in for the 1-0 score.

In the same inning with one out, Victoria Zamora was hit by a pitch, allowing Brady to score and the Blackbirds to take a 2-0 lead. West scored LIU's third run of the game after Celinna Cosio singled through the left side and Ariana Lopez made it 4-0 after Kylie Mulholland reached on fielder's choice. With two outs sophomore Rachel Monroe (Southwick, Mass.) tagged Cosio out at third to help the Bulldogs out of the inning after the Blackbirds posted four hits off four runs.

The Bulldogs began knocking on the door, placing three on base in the fourth and sixth innings combined, before finding their first score of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Leading off for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the seventh, Madsen hammered one over the fence in left field to put the Black and Gold on the board, 4-1. Burger followed suit, doubling down the left field line, before sophomore Robyn Ukegawa (Carlsbad, Calif.) singled to left, but the Bulldogs' effort wasn't enough, as the hosts grounded out for the final out of game one, losing, 4-1, to the Blackbirds.

Madsen finished 2-for-3 with one RBI and one home run, while Burger and Monroe each went 1-for-3. Madsen pitched all seven innings, allowing four runs off six hits, while striking out four batters in game one. Erynn Sobieski received the win for the Blackbirds, pitching all seven innings, while letting up just one run off six hits. The sophomore also finished with nine strikeouts in game one of the doubleheader.

Game Two

The Bulldogs scored runs in three-straight innings, beating the Blackbirds, 5-1, in game two's 6.5 innings. Freshman Chaney Jones (Dover, Del.) got the ball rolling for the home team, bunting and beating out the throw to first base. Jones advanced to third after classmate Jessica Gradillas (Nogales, Ariz.) doubled down the left field line. Junior Mallory Harrigan (Albany, N.Y.) checked in as the pinch hitter, reaching first on a bad fielding by the Blackbirds' shortstop which allowed Gradillas and Jones to trot in for Bryant's 2-0 advantage after two innings of play.

The Black and Gold tacked on three more hits, scoring one run after Burger hit a lead-off home run in the bottom of the third. Burger's homer sent starting pitcher Tallie Woodson back to the dugout and Sobieski back to the mound after two innings of rest. Woodson finished with two strike outs while allowing three runs off five hits in her two innings pitched. Sobieski checked in to help the Blackbirds close out the inning with one Bryant run off three hits, leaving two runners on base.

LIU found a response in the top of the fourth, cutting the deficit to two, 3-1, following Gospodarek's sacrifice fly to left field that plated Mulholland for the Blackbirds only score of game two. With two outs and Madsen on second, Burger drilled a two-run homer to center field, pushing the Bulldogs' lead to 5-1. Burger finished 3-for-3 with two home runs and three RBI in game two of the series.

The Blackbirds gave one last push after runners took second and third with only one out in the sixth, but the Bryant defense held strong through the final two innings, helping the Bulldogs take game two, 5-1.

Jones went 2-for-3, scoring one run, while LIU's West went 2-for-4 and Mulholland finished 2-for-3 with one run. Madsen found her second win of the season on the mound, moving to 2-8, after allowing only one run off five hits, while striking out two batters. In as relief, Sobieski let up two runs off four hits, while posting two strike outs in her four innings on the mound.