FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 14, 2008

NEECE & LOTTI RECEIVE WEEKLY
LITTLE EAST CONFERENCE RECOGNITION

Providence, RI—Rhode Island College freshman pitcher Melanie Neece (Westfield, MA) and senior first baseman Christie Lotti (Waterford, CT) were honored by the Little East Conference for their performance in a 6-0 week for the Anchorwomen softball team.

Neece, who was the LEC’s Rookie of the Week last week, was named the conference’s Pitcher of the Week. In four appearances, Neece earned a decision in each outing—posting three victories and a save—as Rhode Island College extended its winning streak to 17 games. She fanned 20 batters in 17.1 innings, while allowing just four earned runs for a 1.62 ERA on the week. Neece collected her 12th win of the season in the opener of a conference doubleheader against Keene State on April 13, while picking up her second save in the nightcap. On the season, she has appeared in 18 games, starting 10 of them. Neece is 12-1 with two saves, a 1.85 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 79.1 innings.

 Melanie Neece

Lotti was named the league’s Co-Player of the Week, sharing the honor with Western Connecticut’s Loren Angiolillo. Lotti batted .600 (12-for-20) from the plate as Rhode Island College posted a 4-0 record in Little East Conference action. She recorded at least one hit in five of the six contests she saw action in, including three multiple hit efforts. Lotti went 7-for-11 inside the conference circuit, including two consecutive 3-for-3 performances. For the week, she scored 14 runs, smacked four doubles, drove in eight runs and stole five bases. On the season, Lotti has played in 26 games, starting all of them. She is batting .478 (44-for-92) with 40 runs scored, eight doubles, three triples, one home run, 19 RBI and 19 stolen bases.

 Christie Lotti

Head Coach Maria Morin’s team is currently 22-4 overall and 6-0 (first place) in the Little East Conference. In upcoming action, RIC will play at UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday, Apr. 15.

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