FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 6, 2006

The 2006 Little East Conference
Softball Tournament

The Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex at Rhode Island College

Providence, RI

Game Ten

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

R

H

E

#5 Southern Maine (23-20)

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

7

0

#1 Rhode Island College (33-8-1)

1

1

0

0

0

0

-

2

6

1

ANCHORWOMEN WIN LITTLE EAST TOURNAMENT
& HEAD TO NCAA TOURNAMENT FOR
FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Andree Sitnik Named Tournament M.O.P. in, 2-1, Victory

Providence, RI—Top-seeded Rhode Island College defeated fifth-seeded Southern Maine, 2-1, to capture the 2006 Little East Conference Softball Tournament. The Anchorwomen, who were the LEC Regular Season Champions for the second consecutive season, win the conference tournament and earn a bid to the NCAA Div. III Softball Championships for the first time in school history.

Rhode Island College advances to the NCAA Div. III Softball Regionals, held on Thursday-Monday, May 11-15, at a site to be determined later this weekend.

The Anchorwomen, who went undefeated with a 4-0 mark throughout the tourney, took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as junior catcher Kristyn Alexander (East Wareham, MA) belted a two-out single to left field. Sophomore third baseman Krystal Bilek (Fitchburg, MA) then walked to put runners on first and second. Senior right fielder Andree Sitnik (Lincoln, RI) hammered a pitch into the gap in left center field to plate Alexander with the game’s first run.

Rhode Island College added an insurance run in the bottom of the second as senior second baseman Casey Lyons (Hudson, MA) doubled and scored on sophomore first baseman Christie Lotti’s (Waterford, CT) RBI triple to right center field.

That would be all the run support junior pitcher Nicole Riley (North Providence, RI) would need as she kept the Huskies from scoring in all but one inning. The only blemish in her performance came in the top of the third as junior left fielder Danica Martin (Bridgton, ME) reached on an error and later scored on freshman catcher Sabrina Mills’ (Westford, MA) RBI single. The play of the game came later in the inning with Mills on third. Junior shortstop Christen Lachepelle (Farmingdale, ME) flew out to center field and Mills tried to score on the play. Rhode Island College senior center fielder Megan Ponte (Wakefield, RI) threw a strike to Alexander who blocked the plate and tagged Mills out to end the threat.

Riley got two quick outs to start the top of the seventh inning before giving up two hits and a walk to load the bases. Sophomore Dawn Ross (Gray, ME) fouled out to Alexander who caught the pop up to end the game.

Riley allowed seven hits and no earned runs to pick up her 24^th (24-2) win of the season. She struck out five and has not lost a game since Mar. 17. Southern Maine freshman starting pitcher Bree Loon (Jay, ME) took the loss (10-8), for the second straight day against the Anchorwomen, going the distance, allowing two runs on six hits, to go along with a strikeout.

Sitnik was named the 2006 Little East Conference Softball Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. She batted .357 (5-for-14) with two runs scored, three RBI and a triple and played flawless defense in right field, over four games in the tourney.

 
Senior Right Fielder Andree Sitnik (right) Receives the 2006
Little East Conference Softball Most Outstanding Player Plaque from
Rhode Island College President John Nazarian (left) .

In prior LEC Tournament action this week, the Anchorwomen defeated sixth-seeded UMass Dartmouth, 7-1, in opening round action on May 4, and downed fourth-seeded Western Connecticut, 6-4, and fifth seeded Southern Maine, 5-2, on May 5.

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