FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 11, 2007

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

Providence, RI

GAME SEVEN

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#1 Rhode Island College (39-5)

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10

15

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#5 Endicott College (31-11)

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Anchorwomen Sail Past Endicott, 10-3
Lotti Breaks the Single-Season Hits Record in Victory

Providence, RI—Rhode Island College junior first basemen Christie Lotti (Waterford, CT) set the single-season school hits record as the top-seeded Anchorwomen defeated fifth-seeded Endicott College, 10-3, this afternoon in the championship bracket of the 2007 NCAA Div. III Softball New England Regional Tournament at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex. Sophomore left fielder Kelli McCartin (Cranston, RI) and classmate second basemen Justine Burgess (Uxbridge, MA) each collected two hits and knocked in three runs to paced the 15-hit attack. 

Rhode Island College (39-5) advances in the championship bracket to face the winner of second-seeded Tufts University vs. third-seeded Wellesley College (4 p.m.) at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 12. Endicott College (31-11) enters the elimination bracket to battle seventh-seeded Emerson College at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Lotti, the two-time Little East Conference Player of the Year, laced a triple to the base of the left field fence on the first pitch of the afternoon to register her 61st hit of the campaign, breaking her own single-season mark established in 2005. She also matched the program’s single-season standard for triples (11), tying her own mark set last season.  Lotti went 2-for-5 from the dish, driving in two runs and scoring one.

Rhode Island College sent eight players to the plate in the first frame, scoring four runs on four hits. Lotti set the tone with her record-breaking triple and scored on Burgess’ single through the right side. With one-out, freshman designated player Cassie Taverna (Bedford, MA) blooped a single to right field to score Burgess. The Anchorwomen were aided by a pair of Endicott fielding errors, while McCartin capitalized on those miscues with a one-out, two RBI single to right field.

The Anchorwomen blew the game wide open in the fifth inning, scoring four runs on five hits to balloon their advantage to 8-0. Senior catcher Kristyn Alexander (East Wareham, MA) belted a double into the right-center field gap for Rhode Island College’s fourth extra base hit to chase Endicott junior starting pitcher Jenn Elwell (Tewksbury, MA) after four-plus innings of work. The Anchorwomen used RBI singles  by McCartin and freshman center fielder Jackie Dube (Barrington, NH), while Lotti capped the outburst with a two-run scoring single through the right side, put the game out of reach.  

With its back against the wall, Endicott pushed three unearned runs across in the bottom of the frame to extend the contest. The Gulls opened the inning with consecutive singles to put runners on first and second, but Rhode Island College was able to retire the following two batters. The Blue and Green cracked the scoring column on an Anchorwomen throwing error, while junior center fielder Danielle Sargent (Sabattus, ME) plated two runs with a single up the middle.

Rhode Island College pushed across a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh, sealing the Anchorwomen’s program-high 39th victory of the season. Five Rhode Island College student-athletes registered multiple hits. Dube posted her first collegiate three-hit game, while driving in a run and scoring three.

Senior pitcher Nicole Riley (North Providence, RI) did not allow an earned run for the second straight NCAA start to earn her 28th victory (28-3) of the season. In five innings of work, she surrendered five hits and issued a pair of walks, while striking out five. Freshman Jamie Sacco (Bellingham, MA) threw two scoreless innings in relief, giving up a lone hit.

Elwell took the loss (13-3), allowing five runs, three of which were unearned, on seven hits. Senior Robyn Savitske (Hellertown, PA) gave up three runs on five hits in one inning, while sophomore Jackie Collier (Swampscott, MA) threw the final two frames, allowing two runs on four knocks.

-Complete box score to follow-