RIC Defeats St. Joseph’s (LI), 1-0,
In NCAA Regional Opener

Anchorwomen Win Pitchers Duel; Advance To Play Tomorrow at 2 p.m.

BABSON PARK, Mass. – Rhode Island College scored the game’s only run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to claim a 1-0 victory over Saint Joseph’s of Long Island in game three of the 2006 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament New England Regional at Babson College on Thursday afternoon. With the win, RIC (34-8-1) will play Western New England in game seven on Friday at 2 p.m., while St. Joseph’s (21-11) will play Endicott in game six at noon.

In a magnificent pitchers’ duel, St. Joseph’s junior Jennifer Martinez (Bay Shore, N.Y.) carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, while RIC junior Nicole Riley (North Providence, R.I.) allowed just two hits through seven. RIC finally got to Martinez in the bottom of the ninth, as sophomore Christie Lotti (Waterford, Conn.) smacked her 11^th triple of the season to left. Junior Kristyn Alexander (East Wareham, Mass.) then laid down a squeeze bunt in front of the mound, and Martinez missed her attempt to shovel it to the plate as Lotti came home with the winning run.

Riley and Martinez were both brilliant on the mound for their respective teams. For Williams, Riley (25-2) allowed no runs on three hits and two walks while striking out 14 in nine innings of work. Martinez (15-6) was also outstanding in defeat for St. Joseph’s, allowing one earned run on just two hits, walking two and striking out 15 in 8 1/3 innings.