Smithfield, R.I. - Third baseman Regina Burdo hit two home runs to lead Bryant to a doubleheader sweep over the UAlbany in non-conference softball action on Tuesday afternoon at the Softball Complex. The Bulldogs (12-11) took the first game, 8-0, in five innings of play before pulling out a 5-2 victory over the Great Danes in the second half of the twinbill.
Aubrey Mable ignited the offense in game one with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, to give the Bulldogs an early lead. Lauren McCart opened the bottom of the second with a homer of her own, and added her second RBI of the contest in the bottom of the fourth. Christina Eringis would then record a sacrifice fly to left field, giving Bryant the 3-0 edge after three.
The Bulldogs opened up the lead by two more in the bottom of the fourth, as Burdo recorded her two-run shot that gave Bryant a 7-0 cushion. Eringis recorded an RBI double to right field in the top of the fifth that gave Bryant the necessary eight runs to take the five-inning victory. Bryant pitcher Samantha Houseal held UAlbany to just three hits and two walks over five innings of work, striking out seven. Brittany Schweiger took the loss for the Great Danes in the circle, despite fanning four over two and a third innings.
In the late game, UAlbany took an early 2-0 lead on two hits and two errors by the Bryant defense. Katie Wambold led off with a single, and then came home on an error by Houseal. Kylie Apostolina, who got on the base path on the same error that scored Wambold, scored the second UAlbany run on an RBI single by Stephanie Talerico.
The Great Danes' lead would be short-lived, as Burdo responded with her second homer of the day in the bottom half of the second, knocking a three-run shot over the fence to give the hosts a 3-2 lead. After allowing two hits in the second inning, starting pitcher Brittany Hart would shut out the Great Danes for the remainder of the game, recording three strikeouts and no earned runs.
Talia Zizza recorded a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the fourth, while Burdo would add an insurance run and her fourth RBI of the game in the bottom of the sixth with a single down the left field line to set the final score. Hart would retire the side in the bottom of the seventh. Allie Weiser and Brittany MacFawn each tossed three innings in the circle for the Great Danes, with MacFawn picking up the loss.
UAlbany (5-13) will open up the season at home with a doubleheader against crosstown-rival Siena on Thursday afternoon starting at 2:30 p.m.
