RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE READIES FOR NCAA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

Providence, R.I.-- Rhode Island College will host the NCAA Div. III New England Regional Softball Tournament May 8-11 at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex.

The Anchorwomen (33-7), the 2008 Little East Conference Tournament Champions, Regular Season Co-Champions and currently ranked No. 1 in New England, are the top seed and will receive a bye in the first round.

The rest of the tournament field includes second-seeded NESCAC Tournament Champion Tufts (28-9), third-seeded Skyline Champion St. Joseph’s Long Island (30-6), fourth-seeded NEWMAC Champions Wellesley (27-9-1), fifth-seeded North Atlantic Conference Tournament Champions Lesley (30-10), sixth-seeded MASCAC Tournament Champions Bridgewater State (26-15) and seventh-seeded Great Northeast Athletic Conference Tournament Champions Rivier (25-11).

The tournament will begin on Thursday, May 8. Top-seeded RIC will receive a bye in the first round.

10 a.m.
No. 5 Lesley vs. No. 4 Wellesley

Noon
No. 6 Bridgewater State vs. No. 3 St. Joseph’s

2 p.m.
No. 7 Rivier vs. No. 2 Tufts

4 p.m.
Winner of 10 a.m. game vs. No. 1 Rhode Island College

There will be four games played on Friday, May 9 and three games on Saturday, May 10. The Championship game will be played on Sunday, May 11 with an additional game to follow if necessary.

Rhode Island College has played some of the teams in the New England field recently. The Anchorwomen swept a doubleheader from Bridgewater State (4-0, 5-4) on Apr. 1 this season. In last year’s NCAA New England Regional (hosted by RIC), Rhode Island College defeated Tufts twice, (3-0, 8-4), including the Championship Game to send the Anchorwomen to the National Championship Round.

RIC played an epic game with St. Joseph’s in first round action of the 2006 N.E. Regional, played at Babson, winning (1-0) in nine innings on a squeeze bunt.

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