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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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May 8, 2008 |
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RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE ADVANCES TO
NCAA DIV. III SOFTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
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Providence, RI—Top-seeded
Rhode Island College won the 2008 NCAA Div. III Softball New England
Region Championship for the second straight season in a 1-0 win over
third-seeded St. Joseph’s (LI) Sunday afternoon at the Dayna A.
Bazar Softball Complex. |
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The
Anchorwomen (36-7) advance to the NCAA Div. III Softball National
Championship Round, held in Salem, Va. May 16-20, for the second
year in a row. The Golden Eagles (33-8) end their season in the
loss. RIC will face Louisiana College at 11 a.m. at the Moyer Sports
Complex. |
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With one out
in the third, sophomore shortstop Kelsey Souza (Braintree, MA)
hit a flare over her counterpart, stole second then scored on senior
first baseman Christie Lotti’s (Waterford, Conn.) RBI single. |
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Christie Lotti |
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Rhode Island
College freshman starting pitcher Melanie Neece (Westfield,
Mass.) was dominant, hurling a complete game, one-hit shutout
with 10 strikeouts to send the Anchorwomen to the National
Championships. Neece retired 13 consecutive batters over the final
4.1 innings to seal the win. |
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Melanie
Neece |
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The Golden
Eagles threatened in the top of the second as freshman right fielder
Terri Leonard (Sound Beach, N.Y.) doubled down the right
field and the next two batters reached via a walk. Neece struck out
St. Joseph’s senior starting pitcher and top-hitter Jennifer
Martinez (Bay Shore, N.Y.) to end the threat. |
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Martinez, who
is the NCAA Div. III softball all-time strikeout leader (1,169),
ends her brilliant career in the loss (31-4). She allowed just the
one run on four hits, to go along with six strikeouts. |
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"It's a great
win," Rhode Island College Softball Coach Maria Morin said. "It was
a very exciting tournament. I give the kids a lot of credit. They
really prepared themselves, played with a lot of heart and desire
and most importantly they had the will to win. We look forward to
heading back to Salem." |
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"It's
absolutely an amazing feeling," Neece added. "I never pitched a game
this important and it feels awesome!" |
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2008 NCAA
Div. III New England Regional
Softball All-Tournament Team |
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First Base: |
Christie
Lotti,
Rhode Island College |
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Second Base: |
Danielle
Lopez,
Tufts University |
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Shortstop: |
Alexandria
Coari,
Wellesley |
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Third Base: |
Amanda Tai,
Wellesley |
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Catcher: |
Maria Barbuto,
St. Joseph’s |
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Outfield: |
Michelle
Perrin,
Rhode Island College |
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Outfield: |
Roni Herbst,
Tufts |
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Outfield: |
Ilana Orloff,
Wellesley |
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Pitcher: |
Jennifer
Martinez,
St. Joseph’s College |
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Pitcher: |
Melanie Neece,
Rhode Island College |
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Designated
Player/Utl: |
Jenna Harvey,
Wellesley |
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At-Large: |
Kayla
Jandreau,
Rhode Island College |
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At-Large: |
Casey
Sullivan,
Tufts |
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At-Large: |
Kelsey Souza,
Rhode Island College |
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At-Large: |
Monica White,
Rivier |
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St.
Joseph's (LI) College's Jennifer Martinez and Maria Barbuto, along
with
Christie Lotti, Michelle Perrin, Melanie Neece, Kayla Jandreau and
Kelsey Souza were named to the NCAA Div. III Softball New England
Regional's All-Tournament Team. |
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Head Coach
Maria Morin’s Anchorwomen captured their third consecutive
Little East Conference Tournament Championship last week and also
won the league’s Regular Season Championship, sharing the title with
Eastern Connecticut, for the fourth straight season this spring. |
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-end- |