FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 7, 2008

MORIN EARNS 300^th WIN AS RIC SOFTBALL OPENS ’08 WITH WIN OVER MISERICORDIA

KISSIMMEE, Fla.-The Rhode Island College softball team handed Head Coach Maria Morin her 300th career victory this morning as the Anchorwomen defeated Misericordia, 7-3, at the 2008 Rebel Spring Games. Freshman left fielder Chelsi Panarelli (Shrewsbury, Mass.) paced the Rhode Island College attack with a 2-for-3 showing from the plate with a pair of RBI.

Morin is just the 49th coach in the history of NCAA Div. III softball to earn her 300th career victory and the first since Augsburg boss Carol Enke achieved the feat last spring. The three-time Little East Conference Coach of the Year currently boasts an overall career mark of 300-197-4 (.603) in 14 seasons at the helm. The Anchorwomen have earned a berth in the NCAA Div. III Championship Tournament the past two seasons, advancing to the National Championship Round in 2007.

Head Coach Maria Morin

In a season-opening matchup of 2007 NCAA Div. III New England Regional Tournament participants, Rhode Island College (1-0) scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a three-all tie. After three consecutive singles to load the bases with one out, freshman third basemen Kayla Jandreau (Plainville, Conn.) reached on a miscue by the shortstop that allowed two runs to score—including the decisive run. Sophomore first baseman Cassy Taverna (Bedford, Mass.) added an insurance run with her first sacrifice fly of the season, while Jandreau scored on a wild pitch to cap the four-run outburst.

Freshman pitcher Melanie Neece (Westfield, Mass.) collected her first collegiate victory, throwing five innings of relief. She surrendered just one run on two hits, while striking out four and issuing two walks. Sophomore starter Jamie Sacco (Bellingham, Mass.) pitched the first two frames of the contest, allowing two runs on four hits and fanning a pair of hitters.

Panarelli and two other student-athletes recorded multiple knocks as the Anchorwomen posted nine hits in the contest. Panarelli added RBI-singles in the third and fifth frames, while senior catcher Jeanne Rosa (Milford, Conn.) and sophomore shortstop Kelsey Souza (Braintree, Mass.) each collected two base hits. Junior second baseman Justine Burgess (Uxbridge, Mass.) drove in the first run of the campaign in the bottom of the first.

Rhode Island College returns to action on March 7, when the Anchorwomen square off against the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at 11 a.m.

-Complete box score to follow-