Game One Boxscore
Game Two Boxscore

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior Khristle Lee (Aztec, N.M.) accounted for three hits in a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Bryant University, but the Southern Connecticut State University softball team was swept by the host Bulldogs in their Northeast-10 Conference opening series by scores of 5-4 and 8-0. The Owls now sit at 7-16 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

The Owls jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in game one, as junior left fielder Monica Savarese (Orange, Conn.) singled in the top of the first to drive in Lee. Bryant answered in the bottom of the second inning, as Anne Dobmeier roped an RBI double to knot the score at 1-1.

The Bulldogs were silenced for the next four innings, as the Owls built a three run lead. In the top of the fourth inning, junior Amanda St. George (Shelton, Conn.) crossed the plate after a Bryant defensive miscue, and Lee knocked home sophomore Melissa Corwin (Riverhead, N.Y.) to give the Owls a 3-1 lead. Southern Connecticut tacked on an additional run in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single by junior Christina Wolf (Newtown, Conn.).

The Bryant offense finally got to sophomore hurler Kerry Iacomini (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) in the bottom of the seventh inning. After Stephanie Mirando crossed the plate via a passed ball, an RBI single off of the bat of Alexandra Pearson brought the Southern Connecticut lead to single run at 4-3. One batter later, Kate Thomas knocked a fly ball to centerfield for an out, but the hit was deep enough to plate another Bryant run and tie the score at 4-4. Jessica Valentini, the next batter, capped off the Bryant comeback with a walk-off double to right center, as the Bulldogs took game one of the twin bill by a score of 5-4.

Janine Enos hurled a complete game for Bryant, surrendering five hits and only one earned run to improve to 5-3 on the season. Iacomini fell to 3-5 after allowing 10 hits and three earned runs in her day on the hill.

Lee headlined the Owls' offensive output with a 2-for-4 performance. Valentini was a perfect 3-for-3 for the Bulldogs, including the walk-off hit.

The home team struck early and often in the night cap of the double-dip. Bryant put the game out of reach early with a six run second inning, highlighted by a three-run double off of the bat of Kate Thomas. After two innings, the Bulldogs held a commanding 6-0 lead.

Alison Chouinard ended the contest with a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning. Her base knock to left field ran the score to 8-0 and incurred the eight run rule.

Samantha Houseal pitched all five innings for the Bulldogs to earn the win and even her record at 3-3. She allowed only four hits in the shutout. Junior Amanda Pindar (New Britain, Conn.) surrendered four earned runs in 1.1 innings to fall to 3-7.

The Owls are back in action on Wednesday, April 2, as they open their home conference schedule with a pair of games against the Pace University Setters. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 3 p.m.