FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 13, 2002

Rhode Island College Softball

2002 Season Summary

Overall Record: 27-13; 7-7 (Fifth Place) in the Little East Conference

Head Coach Maria Morin’s (Career Record: 153-137-1, .528) team finished the 2002 season with a 27-13 overall record and a 7-7 (fifth place) mark in the Little East Conference. The Anchorwomen qualified for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Tournament for the second time in Coach Morin’s tenure. RIC won in the first round with a 4-1 victory over Coast Guard, defeated Endicott 4-1 in the semi-finals and lost in the finals 1-0 to Fitchburg State.

The Anchorwomen won in the first round of the Little East Conference Tournament with a 2-1 victory over Eastern Connecticut. RIC was eliminated from the LEC final four with a 2-1 loss to Western Connecticut and a 3-0 loss to Plymouth State.

RIC set a new school record for wins (27) in a season and Coach Morin logged her highest single season winning percentage (.675).

Senior outfielder Keri Leighton (Providence, RI) leaves RIC having played in 63 career games, starting 36 of them. She batted .258 with 31 at-bats, eight runs, eight hits, one double, three RBI and one stolen base. She recorded a .323 on-base percentage, a .290 slugging percentage and a .966 fielding percentage in her career.

As a senior in 2002, Leighton played in 29 games, starting 26 of them. She batted .400 with one run, two hits and one RBI. She owned a .400 slugging percentage, a .500 on-base percentage and a .947 fielding percentage.

As a junior in 2001, she played in 19 games, starting five of them. She batted .333 with five hits, two RBI, five runs, one double and one stolen base. She owned a .400 slugging percentage, a .333 on-base percentage and a 1.000 fielding percentage.

As a sophomore in 2000, Leighton played in seven games.

As a freshman in 1999, she played in eight games, starting five of them on the year. She batted .200 with two runs scored. Leighton registered a .200 slugging percentage and a .429 on-base percentage.

Leighton is an elementary/middle education major and a 1997 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School.

Junior first baseman Michele Fanelli (Pembroke Pines, FL) was named First Team All-Little East Conference. Fanelli played in 38 games, starting all of them. She batted .375 with 22 runs, 48 hits, six doubles, four triples, 28 RBI and one stolen base. She owned a .484 slugging percentage, a .396 on-base percentage and a .990 fielding percentage.

Fanelli established a new RIC single season record with 28 RBI this spring.

Junior shortstop Melanie Miller (Warwick, RI) played in 38 games, starting all of them. She batted .224 with 17 runs, 28 hits, three doubles, six RBI and two stolen bases. She owned a .248 slugging percentage, a .265 on-base percentage and a .920 fielding percentage.

Junior second basemen Caitlin Schimmel (Cumberland, RI) played in 38 games, starting 37 of them. She batted .163 with eight runs, 14 hits, one double, seven RBI and one stolen base. She owned a .174 slugging percentage, a .273 on-base percentage and a .946 fielding percentage.

Sophomore catcher Katie Ferreira (Rehoboth, MA) played in 19 games, starting 17 of them. She batted .212 with five runs, seven hits and two RBI. She owned a .212 slugging percentage, a .278 on-base percentage and a .909 fielding percentage.

Sophomore centerfielder Sue Gaber (Colchester, CT) was named Second Team All-Little East Conference. Gaber played in 37 games, starting all of them. She batted .226 with 12 runs, 21 hits, eight RBI and one stolen base. She owned a .226 slugging percentage, a .265 on-base percentage and a .861 fielding percentage.

Sophomore pitcher/designated player Kim Warrington (North Kingstown, RI) was named First Team All-Little East Conference as a designated player and Second Team All-LEC as a pitcher. Warrington appeared in 28 games, starting 25 of them. She was 16-9 with a 0.98 ERA, 23 complete games, seven shutouts, and 146 strikeouts in 171.2 innings. As a DP, she played in 33 games, starting 29 of them. She batted .189 with nine runs, 17 hits, three doubles, four triples, 12 RBI and two stolen bases. She owned a .311 slugging percentage, a .229 on-base percentage and a .962 fielding percentage.

Warrington established a new RIC single season record with 146 strikeouts, as well as becoming the Anchorwomen’s all-time strikeout leader with a two-year total of 282.

Freshman catcher Rachael Caldwell (Shannock, RI) played in 38 games, starting 37 of them. She batted .321 with 14 runs, 36 hits, nine doubles, one triple, one home run and 24 RBI. She owned a .446 slugging percentage, a .381 on-base percentage and a .967 fielding percentage.

Freshman infielder Amy Machado (Newport, RI) was named Second Team All-Little East Conference. Machado played in 37 games, starting 35 of them. She batted .283 with 18 runs, 30 hits, one double, two triples, 15 RBI and three stolen bases. She owned a .330 slugging percentage, a .330 on-base percentage and a .854 fielding percentage.

Freshman outfielder Jennifer Puniello (Bristol, RI) played in 26 games, starting 22 of them. She batted .328 with six runs, 20 hits and 12 RBI. She owned a .328 slugging percentage, a .423 on-base percentage and a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Freshman infielder Aimee Reed (Pawcatuck, CT) played in 19 games, starting 14 of them. She batted .262 with nine runs, 11 hits and six RBI. She owned a .262 slugging percentage, a .367 on-base percentage and a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Freshman pitcher/left fielder Casey Soares (Swansea, MA) was named First Team All-Little East Conference as an outfielder. Soares appeared in 15 games, starting 13 of them. She was 9-4 with a 1.62 ERA, ten complete games, two shutouts and 70 strikeouts in 82.0 innings pitched. As an outfielder, she played in 38 games, starting all of them. She batted .325 with 26 runs, 37 hits, nine doubles, two triples, nine RBI and three stolen bases. She owned a .439 slugging percentage, a .378 on-base percentage and a .957 fielding percentage.

Soares established a new RIC single season record by being hit by four pitches this spring.