MARTINEZ TIES NCAA RECORD FOR CAREER STRIKEOUTS AS GOLDEN EAGLES ADVANCE

Providence, RI—St. Joseph's College senior starting pitcher Jennifer Martinez (Bay Shore, N.Y.) tied the NCAA Div. III record for career strikeouts (1,125) with an amazing 21-K performance at the NCAA Div. III New England Regional Softball Tournament, hosted by Rhode Island College.

Martinez (29-2) recorded each of the necessary 21 putouts via the strikeout as St. Joseph’s downed Bridgewater State, 1-0. She allowed just one hit in seven innings of work to record her 17^th shutout on the season. It is the third time in her career that Martinez has struck out 21 batters. She posted an NCAA Div. III single game record with 24 strikeouts in the Golden Eagles, 3-2, win (11 innings) over New Jersey City University on Apr. 23.

The third-seeded Golden Eagles (31-6) advance to face the winner of Rivier vs. Tufts (game three) tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. The sixth-seeded Bears (26-16) will face the loser of Wellesley vs. Rhode Island College (game four) tomorrow at noon.

Martinez led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to left field. Senior second baseman Michelle Nardella (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) followed with an infield bunt single to shortstop to put runners on first and second. Senior left fielder Kaitlin Schamberger (Levittown, N.Y.) singled to left field and Martinez slid home with the game’s only run.

Bridgewater State senior first baseman Danielle Trull-Donahue (Stoughton, MA) managed the only Bear hit with an infield bunt single in the third inning.

Bridgewater State junior starting pitcher Alyssa Verronneau (Acushnet, Mass.) was the hard luck loser (16-6), allowing just one run on five hits in six innings of work.

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