SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University softball team won both games against Maine by scores of 11-4 and 4-3 at Conaty Park on Saturday.
 
The Bulldogs earned a share of the America East Regular Season title and clinched the No. 1 seed for the 2026 America East Softball Championships with the victory. The championship tournament will be held on the campus of the University of Maine from May 6-9.
 
This is the first AE Regular Season title for the Bulldogs and the second regular season title in DI program history (2014 - NEC). With a win on Sunday, the Black and Gold would secure an outright regular season title.
 
Location: Conaty Park (Smithfield, R.I.)
Bryant 11, Maine 4 | Bryant 4, Maine 3
W | L | S | Maddy Wachter (10-4) | Hannah Hipwell (3-6 |
Lexi Powell (4-5) | Alysen Rieth (6-13)
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Key Moment (GM1)

• The Bulldogs scored nine runs in the first inning.

How it Happened (GM1)

• Arriana Williams drew a walk and stole second in the bottom of the first. Gabriella Gesualdo singled and Bryce Clendenin walked, setting up a sacrifice fly from Teagan Thompson (1-0). The Bulldogs would then score three runs on an error, a bases-loaded walk, and a wild pitch (4-0). Laniya Lewis and Williams hit back-to-back RBI singles, scoring three runs (7-0). Gesualdo then hit a sacrifice fly (8-0). Bryant's ninth run of the inning came from a passed ball (9-0).
• The Black Bears scored on a sac fly in the top of the third (9-1).
• In the top of the fifth inning, Maine hit a three-run home run (9-4).
• In the bottom of the fifth, Lewis and Williams hit singles, which led to an RBI groundout for Clendenin (10-4).
• Jadyn Jenks knocked a single and then scored on an error in the bottom of the sixth (11-4).

Stats (GM1)

• Wachter threw her 11^th complete game.
• Williams went 2-3 with two RBI.
• Gesualdo had a hit and an RBI.
• Clendenin and Thompson posted an RBI.
• Lewis recorded two hits.
• Jenks posted a hit and an RBI.
• Garcia had a hit.

Key Moment (GM2)

• Alissa West pinch hit in the bottom of the fifth, and hit an RBI-triple to the gap, breaking the 2-2 tie.

How it Happened (GM2)

• The Black Bears scored two on a double to the gap in the top of the third (2-0).
• In the bottom of the fourth, Jenks hit a single and then stole second. Lewis knocked a single and also stole second. Williams then hit a groundout, bringing home a run (2-1). Gesualdo would beat out the throw on the next at-bat to tie the game at two.
• Teagan Thompson drew a lead-off walk and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Alissa West then came in as a pinch hitter and hit an RBI-triple to the gap (3-2). Bryant scored another run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth (4-2).
• Maine tallied a run in the top of the seventh on a wild pitch, and then Powell struck out back-to-back batters to secure the win.

Stats (GM2)

• Gesualdo had two hits and an RBI.
• Williams posted a hit and an RBI.
• West recorded a hit and an RBI.
• Jenks tallied a hit.
• Lewis posted a hit.
• Thompson earned a hit.
• Powell threw a complete game, with five strikeouts.

Notes

• The Bulldogs earned their first America East Regular Season title in DI program history, and second regular season title overall since 2014.
• Wachter threw her 11^th complete game of the season.
• She is now 6-1 in AE games with six complete games and a 2.76 ERA.
• Williams had her seventh multi-hit game.
• Lewis now has four multi-hit games this year.
• Gesualdo recorded her sixth 2+ hit game.
• Powell threw her second complete game of the year and tied her season-high of five strikeouts.
• West produced her first career triple.
• Bryant is now 20-4 in three seasons at home against AE opponents.

Next Up
The Bulldogs will look for the sweep on Sunday at Conaty Park.