FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 12, 2007

2007 NCAA Div. III Softball Tournament
New England Region Score Report

Providence, RI

GAME 11

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#2 Tufts University (30-12)

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#1 Rhode Island College (40-5)

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BURGESS & RILEY HELP ANCHORWOMEN BLANK TUFTS
RIC to Host Championship Game Tomorrow

Providence, RI—Senior pitcher Nicole Riley (North Providence, RI) hurled a complete game shutout as top-seeded Rhode Island College blanked second-seeded Tufts University, 3-0, this afternoon to advance to the championship round of the 2007 NCAA Div. III Softball New England Regional Tournament. The Anchorwomen are making the program’s first appearance in the regional final.

Rhode Island College (40-5) will have to wait until tomorrow morning to know who their opponent is. Tufts (30-12) will face the winner of the seventh-seeded Emerson vs. third-seeded Wesleyan (6:10) at noon on Sunday, May 13. Rhode Island College holds the advantage, entering the championship round in the double elimination format with a 3-0 record. The Anchorwomen would have to be beaten tomorrow to force a one-game title contest on Monday, May 14.

Rhode Island College led off the bottom of the third inning with four consecutive hits to crack the scoring column. Sophomore second basemen Justine Burgess (Uxbridge, MA) laced a two-RBI double to left center field to score juniors Jeanne Rosa (Milford, CT) and Christie Lotti (Waterford, CT). That hit chased Tufts senior starting pitcher Lauren Ebstein (Chicago, IL) from the game. Senior catcher Kristyn Alexander (East Wareham, MA) followed suit with an RBI-single off of sophomore reliever Lauren Gelmetti (Westfield, NJ) to increase the Anchorwomen’s advantage to 3-0.

Riley ups her record to 29-3, notching her 12 shutout and 20^th complete game of the season. She allowed eight hits, while striking out five in the win.

Ebstein falls to 5-2, allowing three runs on four hits. Gelmetti allowed one hit, while striking out four in four innings of work.

The loss marks just the second time this season that Tufts has been shutout. The Jumbos were blanked by Wellesley, 3-0, back on Apr. 3.

-Complete box score to follow-