NEW LONDON, CONN.—(4/26/09)—Senior Samantha Rhodes threw her third complete game of the day and fourth-seeded Springfield outscored its opponents 23-2 in winning three games and capturing its second straight New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament championship.

The Pride (20-22) beat second-seeded Wellesley twice by 8-1 scores in the championship round after beating top-seeded Coast Guard 7-0 in the first game of the day. Springfield earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Rhodes (12-10) scattered seven hits and allowed just the one earned run while not walking a batter and striking out two in the second championship game.

Cassella got the Pride on the board in the top of the first with an RBI single scoring Atkins, who singled and stole second. Wellesley got the run back in the home half as freshman Elora Daniele bunted for a hit, stole second and scored on an RBI single by sophomore Allison Davis.

Springfield took the lead 2-1 in the fourth as junior Caitlin Corry led off with a single, stole second was bunted to third and scored on a throwing error.

The Blue threatened in the bottom of the fourth, as they had the bases loaded with just one out, but Rhodes got strikeout and then a ground ball to end the inning.

The Pride scored four runs in the sixth with seniors Angela Atkins and Aimee Cassella each had two-run singles and then two more in the seventh on a pinch hit two-run triple by junior Bryn Worrilow to close the scoring.

First-year Sarah Sherburne (3-2), making just her sixth start of the season, went 5 2/3 allowing 10 hits and six runs,five earned while walking just one and striking out seven and took the loss.

Casella had two hits and three RBI while Atkins had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Amanda Novak and junior Caitlin Corry each added two hits as the Pride had 14 hits in the clinching win.

Springfield forced the second championship game by exploding for eight runs in the fourth inning of the first championship game enroute to a 8-1 win.

Rhodes (11-10) allowed just four hits and one earned run while not walking a batter and striking out four to pickup the complete game win.

In the eight run fourth, the Pride had five hits and took advantage of two errors.  Cassella had a two-run single in the inning while freshman Tess Gagliano added an RBI single and Atkins and Corry walked with the bases loaded.

Wellesley (21-14-1) had taken the lead in the top of the fourth as Alison Davis led off with a single, was bunted over to second and scored on a single by junior Alex Warren.

Senior Barbarajean Grundlock (14-9) worked 3 2/3 innings allowing eight runs, six earned while also walking eight in taking the loss.

Atkins and Corry each had two hits for the Pride in the first game.

  NEWMAC Tournament Website

Courtesy Coast Guard Sports Information