WELLESLEY ELIMINATES RIVIER AT NCAA N.E. DIV. III REGIONALS

Providence, RI—Fourth-seeded Wellesley scored five runs and capitalized on four errors to eliminate seventh-seeded Rivier, 8-0, in five innings at game eight of the 2008 NCAA Div. III New England Softball Regional Tournament, hosted by Rhode Island College at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex.

The Blue (30-10-1) advance to face second-seeded Tufts this afternoon at 4 p.m. The Raiders (25-14) end their season in the loss.

Wellesley scored a run in the second, third and fourth innings, respectively, to post a 3-0 lead. Senior designated player Jenna Harvey (London, Ontario) singled and scored on a passed ball with what proved to be the game-winning run in the second inning. Harvey plated senior center fielder Meghan Sullivan (Markam, Ontario) with an RBI single the following frame, while sophomore first baseman Alex Warren (Delta, British Columbia) doubled and scored on classmate shortstop Alexandria Coari’s (Geneva, Ill.) RBI single in the third.

Freshman second baseman Alison Davis’ (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) two-run double highlighted a five-run outburst as the Blue ended the contest in the fifth. Junior starting pitcher Beej Grundlock (Blackwood, N.J.) earned her 10^th win (10-4), allowing just three hits, while striking out 11, to pick up her fourth shutout.

Rivier sophomore starting pitcher Monica White (Augusta, Maine), took the loss (21-9), allowing eight runs, six of which were earned, on 10 hits, while logging six strikeouts.

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