FORBES PINCH HIT THREE-RUN HOMER LIFTS GOLDEN EAGLES TO REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Providence, RI—Third-seeded St. Joseph’s eliminated second-seeded Tufts, 3-1, in game 11 of the 2008 NCAA Div. III New England Regional Softball Tournament, hosted by Rhode Island College at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex.

The game was halted after five innings on Saturday, May 10 due to darkness and resumed on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. The Golden Eagles (33-7) advance to face top-seeded Rhode Island College at noon in the Championship Game. St. Joseph’s will have to defeat the Anchorwomen twice in order to advance to the National Championship Round. The Jumbos (30-11) end their season in the loss.

The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning, when St. Joseph’s freshman catcher Maria Barbuto (Huntington Station, N.Y.) walked and was lifted for senior pinch runner Allyson Frisina (Smithtown, N.Y.). After a ground out, Tufts sophomore pitcher Stefanie Tong (Burlingame, Calif.) intentionally walked senior pitcher Jennifer Martinez (Bay Shore, N.Y.). Sophomore pinch hitter Caitlin Forbes (Nesconset, N.Y.) came up and belted a home run (1) over the left field fence for the decisive runs.

Tufts rallied in the home half of the inning to plate one on senior catcher Megan Cusick’s (Albany, N.Y.) RBI double to left field.

Martinez held the Jumbos scoreless in two innings of work on Sunday. For the game, she allowed just one run on two hits, while striking out nine, to earn her 31^st win (31-3). After striking out the first two batters she faced in the bottom of the seventh, Martinez walked the next three to load the bases, but she struck out sophomore shortstop Casey Sullivan (Berlin, Conn.) to win the game.

Tong took the loss (8-2), allowing three runs on two hits in 4.2 innings of work. Freshman Izzie Santone (Farmington, Conn.) hurled the final 2.1, allowing just one hit.

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