Softball Begins Spring Practice, Open Season March 11 in Florida

 Friday, January 25

Smithfield, RI- The students of Bryant University returned to Smithfield this week for the first week of spring semester classes. Also back are the Bulldog softball team which began team practice this week. The Bulldogs are looking to build on a 2008 season in which they reached the Northeast Regional final of the NCAA Tournament, the program's fourth consecutive trip to the tournament. With returning seniors Jessica Valentini (Cliffside Park, NJ), Jennifer Serrano (Stoneham, Mass.), and pitcher Janine Enos (Wareham, Mass.), hopes are high for the Bulldogs again this spring. 

The Bulldogs will be led by Lisa-Ann Wallace, who last year became the winningest coach in program history. Wallace will lean heavily on her senior class of Serrano, Valentini, and Enos- especially Enos who will be one of the top pitchers in the Northeast-10 this year.

 Last spring, Enos started every single NCAA tournament game, compiling a 4-2 record with a 1.94 ERA. Behind Enos, the Bulldogs made their longest run into the NCAA tournament in program history.

The Bulldogs will look to replace the 2007 senior class of Amanda Wilbur, Lindsay Connor, Nikki Ingalls, Briana Durborow, Lauren McNiff, and Amanda Gagne, who formed the winningest class in Bryant history. The team will rely on the leadership of the tri-captains of this year's team-Valentini, Stephanie Mirando (North Haven, CT), and Ashley Coon (Levittown, PA)- to rally a young team this spring.

The Bulldogs will welcome seven freshman into the fold this year, joining a talented sophomore class that emerged as contributors last year. The Bulldogs will also rely heavily on freshman pitcher Samantha Houseal, who comes to Bryant after a decorated high school career at Donegal High School in Mount Joy, Penn.

 The Bulldogs will spend most of their practice time these first few weeks on calisthenics and conditioning drills before moving outside for softball practice. The Bulldogs will kick off the year with a spring break trip to Florida to play Tampa, Florida Southern, and Hillsdale. The Bulldogs had an impressive start to the season during last year's trip to Florida.