O'Leary, Innerst lead softball to sweep over Bryant

Wednesday, March 30

Providence, R.I.

2:00 p.m.

Brown University

8-14

Bryant

4-15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Bryant	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	2	8	1
BROWN	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	5	1

Photo by: David Silverman Photography

O'Leary, Innerst lead softball to sweep over Bryant

3/30/2022 8:01:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown softball found out there are multiple ways to win a softball game as the Bears swept Bryant in a doubleheader on Wednesday (March 30). The Bears took game one 3-2 in eight innings before winning 13-1 in five innings to close out the day.

Katie O'Leary had a stellar day at the plate with eight RBIs on the day and Lauren Innerst collected a career-high 11 strikeouts in game two.

GAME 1: BROWN 3, BRYANT 2 – 8 INNINGS
Brown pulled out a wild win in game one, taking down the Bulldogs 3-2 in eight innings. The Bears finished with just five hits and Brown's pitching staff gout out of multiple jams as Bryant left 14 on base.

Bryant got two runners on in the first but starter Erin Elgas was able to get out of the inning. In the bottom of the first, O'Leary started her hot day with a solo home run to left center field. Elayna Tsiouplis singled in the next at bat but it was the last Brown would collect until the seventh inning.

The Bulldogs left two runners on in the third but finally got a run on the board with a bases-loaded two out walk after an error in the previous at bat. Elgas was able to get a flyout in the next at bat to minimize the damage.

After O'Leary reached on an error to start the fourth, the senior made it to third with two outs but a strikeout kep the game tied.

Bryant got two runners on in both the fifth and sixth inning but again Brown escaped any trouble with Elgas getting out of the jam in the fifth and Alexis Guevara getting out of the sixth after replacing Elgas.

Both teams got runners into scoring position in the seventh but neither could bring home a run and we headed to extras.

Beginning with a runner on second, Guevara got the first two outs but a two-out double put Bryant up 2-1.

Brown needed a run to tie and Carey singled to lead off the inning putting runners on first and third. After Carey stole second O'Leary was hit by the pitch to load the bases. A strikeout and fielder's choice that got the runner at home put two outs on the board. Vanessa Alexander came up to pinch hit and hit a hard ground ball that was stopped by Bryant's second baseman on a dive but the ball got away from the fielder allowing Carey and O'Leary to come around and score to give Brown the win.

GAME 2: BROWN 13, BRYANT 1 – 5 INNINGS
Brown won a very different game in the nightcap of the doubleheader, beating Bryant 13-1 in five innings. O'Leary finished the game diving in seven runs on two doubles. Lauren Innerst picked up the win, tossing a career-high 11 strikeouts in the complete game. Both marks are the most by a Bear in a game since at least 2012.

The Bears got things going quickly as Nicole Kim singled and Carey walked. O'Leary doubled to the wall in right center to bring home both runners. Two batters later, Brianna Rodriguez singled home O'Leary and Brown led 3-0.

After another single and walk to start the third, Kat Clum singled to bring home Tsiouplis. Two batters later, Moe Kastens hit a double over the center fielder's head to brin home both Clum and Rodriguez. A walk and hit batter would load the bases for O'Leary, who proceeded to crush the second pitch of the at bat to the wall in center, unloading the bases and putting Brown up 9-0.

Bryant would get on the board in the fourth with a solo home run but that was all the Bulldogs would manage against Innerst. Innerst struck out eight of the first nine batters she faced and only allowed two walks.

Brown got some insurance runs in the fourth as a double by Alexander scored Jaidey Hagiwara, who walked to lead off the inning. Three walks surrounding a groundout loaded the bases for O'Leary again and the senior delivered with a single to left to bring home to more runs.

Innerst struck out two of the three batters in the fifth to end the game.

UP NEXT
Brown will get back to Ivy League play with a three game series at Yale over the weekend beginning on Saturday (April 2).