For Immediate Release
May 8, 2008
Courtesy Rhode Island College Sports Information
Wellesley Advances With 3-2 Win in NCAA Regionals
Providence, RI—Third-seeded Wellesley defeated fourth-seeded Lesley, 3-2, in game one of the 2008 NCAA Div. III New England Regional Softball Championships. The Blue (28-9-1) advance to face top-seeded Rhode Island College this afternoon at 4 p.m. The Lynx (30-11) will face the loser of Rivier vs. Tufts (game three) tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.
Wellesley went on top, 1-0, in the bottom of the second as junior designated player Jenna Harvey (London, Ontario) singled and sophomore first baseman Shawna McCreadie (Des Plaines, Ill.) reached on an error to put runners on first and second with one out. Both runners moved up to second and third on a ground out, then junior third baseman Amanda Tai (Melrose, Mass.) hit a flare just over the shortstop’s head to plate Harvey.
The Blue threatened in the fifth as senior shortstop Alexandria Coari (Geneva, Ill.) led off with a bunt single, was sacrificed to second, but eventually stranded on third.
Lesley took the lead, 2-1, in the top of the sixth as freshman right fielder Alyson Durben (Stow, Mass.) belted a one-out double to left field to get the offense moving. After a line out to center field, sophomore first baseman Georgia Saltzman (Lynn, Mass.) smacked a home run (2) to left center field.
The Blue came right back in the home half of the frame as senior center fielder Meghan Sullivan (Markham, Ontario) singled, was sacrificed to second, and then moved over to third on a ground out. Senior catcher Kara Wong (Milford, Mass.) singled to center field to tie the game, 2-2. Wellesley loaded the bases, but Lesley junior starting pitcher Alicia Burnett (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) got Tai to fly out to left field to end the inning.
Freshman second baseman Alison Davis (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) led off the bottom of the seventh with a triple to right field. Sophomore right fielder Ilana Orloff (Weston, Mass.) followed with a grounder to second that was misplayed, allowing Davis to come home with the walk-off winning run.
Wellesley junior starting pitcher Beej Grundlock (Blackwood, N.J.) earned her 9th win (9-4). She allowed two runs on just three hits, while striking out nine in seven innings.
Burnett took the loss (17-6), allowing no earned runs on nine hits in seven innings.