March 24, 2009
BULLDOGS CONTINUE HOME STAND WITH THREE MORE GAMES THIS WEEK; TAKE ON HARVARD IN TWIN BILL THURSDAY, WELCOME URI ON SATURDAY
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant softball team finishes up an eight-game home stand with three more this week as they battle the Crimson of Harvard on Wednesday in a double-header before hosting URI for a game on Saturday afternoon. The team then travels out to Wagner to battle the Seahawks in a twin bill on Sunday. The Bulldogs are 1-4 so far on the home stead, losing four-straight after winning their home opener in a, 3-2, thriller over Holy Cross. The team is 5-18 on the year so far after dropping three games over the weekend against two tough teams in Boston College and Maine.
SENIORS FIND THEIR GROOVE
Senior Kate Thomas (Bedford, N.H.) was
four-for-ten over the weekend with two doubles and two RBI, while
fellow senior Stephanie Mirando (North Haven,
Conn.) also found her stroke at the plate, going
three-for-nine over the weekend with a double and two RBI. Thomas
is now second on the team with a .254 average while blasting two
long balls and eight RBI, one behind junior Ashley Coon
(Levittown, Pa.) for the team lead. Anne Dobmeier
(Buffalo, N.Y.) also had a pair of hits, including a
double to right field in game two against Maine to break up the
no-hitter.
YOUNG GUNS
Freshmen Lauren McCart (Vorhees, N.J.)
and Lindsay Martin (Methuen, Mass.) have made an
immediate impact on the Bulldog lineup, as the two have worked
themselves into the starting outfield with McCart in center and
Martin in left. Martin leads the team in hitting with a .289
average, having a five-game hitting streak snapped against BC on
Saturday. She also leads the team with four doubles and a .360
on-base percentage. McCart is fourth on the team with a .240
average and has appeared in all 23 of Bryant's games this season.
HOUSEAL CLIMBING
THE CHARTS
Sophomore starting pitcher Samantha Houseal (Mount
Joy, Pa.) has stepped into the number one starter
role well this year, picking up five wins thus far this year with
an impressive 108 strikeouts in 125 innings pitched. She already
ranks fourth all-time for strikeouts in a career with 187, while
her 112 punch-outs this year is third most for a Bulldog pitcher in
a single season.
DOBMEIER COMES UP CLUTCH
Dobmeier hit a two out, two run homerun in the bottom of
the sixth inning against Holy Cross in game one on Tuesday, turning
a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead to help Bryant to a win in their
first Division I home game.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Harvard (9-5)
The Crimson of Harvard University are coming off a
tournament title in the Highlander Classic, after defeating Eastern
Michigan, 10-6, and Radford, 3-2, on Sunday. Harvard takes on
UNC-Greensboro Tuesday afternoon before making their first trip to
Smithfield to battle the Bulldogs.
Hayley Bock has been the top hitter for the Crimson so far this season, posting a .325 batting average and the lone homerun for the squad this season. Jessica Pledger is the team's best run producer, driving in a team-best 12 RBI on the year, while Rachel Brown has been unstoppable on the mound, going a perfect 7-0 with a 1.14 ERA.
University of Rhode Island (6-11)
The Rams of the University of Rhode Island have lost five
of their last six entering play this week, but did grab a win their
last time out over Dayton, 8-7, for their first Atlantic-10
victory. The Rams play a pair of double-headers this week, taking
on Stony Brook on Tuesday and Boston University on Thursday before
traveling to Smithfield as the team has yet to play a home game
this year.
URI is led by Leah DiBussolo at the plate, who is hitting exactly .300 while starting 15 of the 17 Ram games. She is tied for second with five RBI while hitting one homerun. Brittany Julich leads the team in RBI with six. Only Stefani Poedubick has started every game for the Rams this season. Odalys Torres has the most starts on the mound this season, starting eight games while posting a 4.54 ERA and a record of 0-3. Allison Hartzell holds the team lead in wins with four and a 3.80 ERA in 42.1 innings.
Wagner (6-14)
The Bulldogs hit the road for the first time since
returning from the Rebel Games in Florida to take on future
Northeast Conference rival, Wagner, on Sunday afternoon in a
double-header. The Seahawks battle Temple and Long Island before
welcoming the Bulldogs to Staten Island.
Cindy Bagnoli is the team leader in batting average, registering a .400 average in her 19 games played. Andrea Lazzari, who has started all 20 games for Wagner, leads the team with four homeruns and 19 RBI to compliment her .364 average. Kaelynn Armenta is the team's top hurler with a 1.67 ERA while starting nine games and registering a 2-7 record.
