CONWAY - The Coastal Carolina softball team improved 20-4 on the season as they defeated the Bryant Bulldogs 5-1 on Monday afternoon at St. John Stadium. The Chanticleers used 5.2 innings of scoreless softball from senior starter Ashley Guillette.

Guillette on the afternoon was able to keep the Bulldogs bats off balance as she changed speeds. The Oxford, Connecticut native added eight strikeouts on 123 pitches..

After picking up a run in the bottom of the first off sacrifice fly from freshman Sydney Guess, Coastal picked up two home runs in the bottom of the fourth from Mackenzie Beyer (2) and Chelsea D'Avilar (2).

In the fifth, Guillette ran into trouble against the Bears bats. The veteran picked up two quick outs, but then allowed a hit from Toni Camarillo and then walked Morgan Powell and Kaileigh Goulart. With bases loaded Guillette bared down to get the next batter Alexandra Hickey for her second of three strike outs on the day.

A two out double by freshman Sydney Guess led to a two-run bottom of the fifth for the Chanticleers. Next batter Stavi Augur walked, followed by a Alexis Alvino rope double down the left field line scoring both runners to put the Chants up 5-0.

The Bulldogs loaded up the bases in the sixth off Guillette prompting Head Coach Kelley Green to her junior Ally Marcano to get the final out. The lefty induced a ground ball back to herself to put out the lead runner at home to end the threat.

Marcano returned for the top of the seventh and gave up an RBI single to designated player Gianna Ceccarelli, but the lefty was able to hold the lead for CCU.

With the win Coastal adds its seventh consecutive win, the most since the 2017 squad had 13 in a row.

Sophomore Courtney Dean added a hit in first inning pushing her games hit streak to seven. Junior Kassidy also added a hit in the pushing her on base streak to 21 games.

Guillette improves to 9-2 on the season and moves into a four-way tie for fifth all-time in victories (46).

The Chanticleers and Bulldogs will return to the field in a rematch on Tuesday afternoon with first pitch schedule for 1 p.m.

For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSB (twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.