Behind an MVP performance from NEC Player of the Year Elle Madsen, the Bulldogs went a perfect 3-0 behind the bionic arm of Madsen en route to the NEC Title and the first Division I NCAA Championship berth in program history. The sophomore pitcher compiled a 3-0 record in the circle, allowing just eight earned runs over the weekend while amassing a .500 average at the plate with a homerun, five RBI and two runs scored.

LIU jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Whitney West led off with a single up the middle, and walks to graduate student Lauren Morizi and junior Madison Green loaded the bases with two outs. Madison Zymkowitz stepped to the plate and legged out an infield single to score West and give LIU a 1-0 advantage.

However, Bryant struck back scoring the next five runs to take a commanding 5-1 lead. It began in the top of the second when Madsen drew a leadoff walk to get thing started for the Bulldogs. Senior Lauren Guy laced her first of two hits on the day to left center to drive in Madsen and knot the score, 1-1.

In the top of the third, Bryant went back to work when Aubrey Mable and Madeline Velasquez reached base with two outs, setting up Madsen who sent a three-run laser beam over the left center field fence to give Bryant the 4-1 lead. 

The Black and Gold went on to tack another run on in the following inning when Guy lead things off with a double to right center, setting up senior catcher Kendall Corder, who drove Guy home with a single to right field to put the Bulldogs up, 5-1.

On the defensive end, Madsen was dealing, retiring 12-straight Blackbirds into the bottom of the sixth inning until Ariana Lopez sent a pinch hit homer to dead center to cut the Bryant lead to just three runs, 5-2. LIU added one more in the sixth, but Madsen quickly shut things down, conserving the 5-3 edge heading into the seventh.

In LIU's final at bats, the NEC Player of the Year and Tournament MVP did exactly what she had done all year, shut the door on the opposition, securing the Championship victory for the Bulldogs.

With the win, head coach Shayne Lotito and her staff bring the first NEC Championship trophy to Smithfield and will lead the Bulldogs to the DI NCAA Tournament for the first-time in Bryant history.

All-Tournament Team
Elle Madsen (BRY) - MVP
Aubrey Mable (BRY)
Madeline Velasquez (BRY)
Lauren Morizi (LIU)
Nichole Toven (LIU)
Cassie Vondrak (LIU)
Laura Messina (CCSU)
Arielle Bruno (CCSU)
Bryana Dorado (FDU)