For Immediate Release

Women’s College Softball

Southern Maine, Rhode Island College Split Little East Conference Opener

GORHAM, Maine – Freshman Bree Loon (Jay, Maine/Jay) fired a five-hit shut out to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 7-0 win with the Rhode Island College Anchorwomen in the second game of a Little East Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

In the first game, Rhode Island College scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning and held on for the win to earn the split.  Rhode Island College now stands at 10-6 overall, while the Huskies remain at .500 with a 6-6 record.  The doubleheader was the conference opener for both schools

                In the second game, Southern Maine jumped ahead early in the first inning as senior OF Caitlin Stivaletta (Wells, Maine/Wells) led off with a triple to deep right center and then scored on a throwing error to give USM a 1-0 advantage.  The Huskies would take a 3-0 advantage by the end of their first at bat following runs from juniors C Danica Martin (Bridgton, Maine/Lake Region) and SS Christen Lachapelle (Farmingdale, Maine/Hall-Dale). 

                Southern Maine scored four more runs in the third inning led by senior 1B Caterina Riitano’s (Sangerville, Maine/Piscataquis) two run double to left field and senior 2B Katie Mainville’s (Coopers Mills, Maine/Erksine Academy) RBI single to center field. 

                Loon (4-1) scattered five hits over seven innings to earn her fourth win of the season, striking out six batters.  Rhode Island College freshman pitcher Justine Burgess (3-4) (Uxbridge, Mass./Uxbridge) took the loss yielding two earned runs in the first inning and a third unearned run before being lifted for junior pitcher Nicole Riley (North Providence, R.I./North Providence). 

                Riley (7-2) earned the win in the first game for Rhode Island College giving up just three hits and striking out six batters for the shutout   USM’s Mainville pitched well in the loss giving up four hits over seven innings with four strikeouts.

                Junior catcher Kristyn Alexander (East Wareham, Mass./Wareham) plated the Anchorwomen’s first run of the game in the fourth inning when she hit a deep fly ball to center field for the RBI to score Burgess.  Burgess led off the inning and reached first after she was hit by a pitch and then advanced to third on a single from sophomore 1B Christie Lotti (Waterford, Conn./Waterford).  Lotti came around to score on a sacrifice bunt by senior OF Meg Ponte (Wakefield, Rhode Island/Mt. Hope). 

                Southern Maine returns to action Sunday (April 2) at Babson College for a non-conference doubleheader.  First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.  Rhode Island College is in action again on Tuesday (April 4) when it hosts Bridgewater State College for a non-conference doubleheader at 3:30 p.m.

Game One            123         456         7              R-H-E

RIC (10-5, 1-0)     000         002         0              2-4-0

USM (5-6, 0-1)      000         000         0              0-3-1

Batteries: SM, Katie Mainville and Danica Martin; RIC, Nicole Riley and Kristyn Alexander

WP: RIC, Nicole Riley  LP: SM, Katie Mainville (2-3)

2B: SM, Sabrina Mills          3B: None               HR: None

RBI: RIC, Alexander, Megan Ponte

Repeat Hitters: None

Game Two            123         456         7              R-H-E

RIC (10-6, 1-1)     000         000         0              0-5-4

USM (6-6, 1-1)      304         000         x              7-10-0

Batteries: SM, Bree Loon and Sabrina Mills; RIC, Justine Burgess, Riley (1), Kerrianne Fuller (4) and  Krystal Bilek, Alexander (4)

WP:  SM, Loon (4-1)   LP:  RIC, Burgess

2B: SM, Christen Lachapelle, Caterina Riitano             3B: SM, Caitlin Stivaletta; RIC, Jeanne Rosa                 HR: None

RBI: SM, Rittano 3, Stivaletta, Mainville

Repeat Hitters: Stivaletta, Lachapelle