Framingham State Falls To No. 1 Rhode Island College, 3-2
No. 8 Framingham State fell 3-2 to No. 1 Rhode Island College in the first round of the double-elimination NCAA Division III Softball Championship on Thursday morning.
FRAMINGHAM STATE FALLS TO NO. 1 RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE, 3-2
Providence, RI, May 10, 2007 - No. 1 Rhode Island College advanced in the championship bracket of the NCAA Division III Softball New England Regional Tournament, defeating No. 8 Framingham State, 3-2, on Thursday morning at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex.
The Anchorwomen used a three-run sixth, while senior pitcher
Nicole Riley (North Providence, RI) registered
nine strikeouts in six innings of work, to send the hosts into the
second day of competition.
Rhode Island College (38-5) will face the winner of fourth-seeded
Keene State College vs. fifth-seeded Endicott College (noon)
tomorrow at 2 p.m., while Framingham State (21-20) squares off
against the loser of the Owls and the Gulls at 10:00 a.m. in an
elimination game.
In a closely contested affair, neither the Anchorwomen nor the Rams
could solve the opposing starting pitcher, combining for just five
hits through five and a half innings. Framingham State placed
runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth, but Riley
buckled down and eliminated the threats.
Rhode Island College finally cracked the scoring column in the
bottom of the sixth inning, as the Anchorwomen were able to plate
three runs. The hosts capitalized on a throwing error by Framingham
State senior starting pitcher DeAnna Curtis (Lakeville,
MA) on RIC shortstop Jeanne Rosa's (Milford,
CT) bunt attempt, which allowed the junior to advance to
second base. Rosa advanced to third on junior first baseman
Christie Lotti's (Waterford, CT) ground out and
scored on sophomore left fielder Kelli McCartin's
(Cranston, RI) RBI fielder's choice. Senior catcher
Kristyn Alexander (East Wareham, MA) plated
McCartin on an RBI-single to left-center field, while junior third
basemen Krystal Bilek (Fitchburg, MA) followed
suit with an RBI-double to right-center field, scoring freshman
pinch runner Kelsey Sousa (Braintree, MA) to cap
the surge.
The Rams would not go quietly in their final at-bats, scoring a
pair of unearned runs off of Rhode Island College freshman pitcher
Jamie Sacco (Bellingham, MA). With one out,
Framingham State connected on consecutive singles and scored on the
Anchorwomen's fourth defensive error. After a strikeout, Rams
senior right fielder Laura Walsh (Dracut, MA)
laced a RBI single to shallow left field, which McCartin fielded
and cut down sophomore third basemen Colleen Clancy (Lynn,
MA), the potential tying run, at the plate to end
ballgame.
Riley hurled six innings to raise her overall record to 27-3,
allowing just two hits, while issuing a lone walk. Sacco gave up
three hits and two unearned runs to pick up her first collegiate
save. Curtis was the hard luck loser, surrendering three unearned
runs and limiting the Rhode Island College to just six hits. She
falls to 13-8 on the campaign.
