Wednesday afternoon was a frustrating one for the softball team.

The Bulldogs (6–15, 2–2 Ivy) struggled offensively in a doubleheader against the Providence Friars (10–16), losing the first game 6–2 and the second game 9–1 at Dewitt Family Field in some early summer weather.

“We didn’t do nearly as well as we expected to,” head coach Barbara Reinalda said. “There’s not much you can say after a day like that.”

The Friars came out swinging in game one, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring five runs in the top of the first inning. The Blue finally put an end to the inning with an interesting, one-two-five double play. But the damage was done.

The Friars added another run in the second before the Elis finally got on the board in the bottom of the inning with a two-run double from catcher McKynlee Westman ’11. Yale would only manage two hits the rest of the way as Providence earned the 6–2 victory.

Reinalda said the game should have been closer as the Bulldogs gave away too many runs too easily.

“The game should probably have been around 3-2,” she said.

Pitcher Jackie Manzer ’13 lost her fifth game of the season, allowing six earned runs while striking out four through five innings of work.

Center fielder and captain Ashley Sloan ’10 and left fielder Allie Canulli ’10 each had a hit.

In game two, Providence once again scored in the top of the first, putting two runs on the board. Providence scored three more runs in the fourth to take a 5–0 lead. Yale got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, as pitcher Holly Gutterud ’10 batted home third baseman Christy Nelson ’13 with a single. It would be the only Bulldog run of the game.

Despite Gutterud being replaced by pitcher Kayla Kuretich ’10, who leads the team in ERA, the Friars continued their offensive onslaught, scoring a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to take a 9–1 lead. The game ended before the seventh inning due to the mercy rule.

“We were all pretty frustrated,” utility player Chelsea Janes ’12 said. “We’re 10 times better than this.”

Sloan had two hits, bringing her day’s total to three and extending her hitting streak to six games. Gutterud had a hit and an RBI, in addition to pitching four innings while striking out two and giving up two earned runs. Kuretich gave up four earned runs and struck out two in two innings.

“We need to come out here and be focused every inning this weekend,” Canulli said. “We can’t play this way this weekend.”

As the Bulldogs prepare for a crucial weekend of Ivy League play with two doubleheaders against Cornell and Princeton, the team will focus on improving its offense.

“We just need to put our sticks to the ball,” Reinalda said.

The first pitch against Cornell is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. at Dewitt Family Field.