From Bob Molta ECSU Sports Information Director:
Top-seeded RIC scores four unearned runs in sixth to eliminate Warriors
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - For the second straight game, third-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University's opponent scored all four of its runs in one inning as the Warriors were eliminated from the 2009 Little East Conference softball tournament in a 4-2 loss to top-seeded Rhode Island College Friday morning at Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex on the Rhode Island College campus.
A loser of five of its last eight games, Eastern (25-11) awaits a possible at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament when invitations are extended Monday. Three-time defending champion Rhode Island (38-4) was scheduled to play a winners' bracket game Friday at 4:30 p.m. against fourth-seeded Western Connecticut State University. Western scored all four of its runs in the third inning of its 4-3 win over Eastern in Thursday's opening game.
As it did against Western, Eastern watched a 1-0 lead disappear against Rhode Island College. The Anchorwomen, who edged Eastern by scores of 2-1 and 6-4 this past Saturday, scored four unearned runs in the sixth inning Friday on three hits, a walk and infield error. Number 9 hitter Donielle Mattoon drove in the first run witih a two-out single and three runs scored on a bases-loaded single to center by leadoff hitter Amanda Perry.
Eastern freshman leadoff hitter Priscilla Alicea (Stratford) recorded two of Eastern's six hits against complete-game winner Amanda Berard (13-3). Alicea improved her team-high batting average to .432 by doubling and scoring in the fourth to give Eastern a 1-0 lead, and hitting a leadoff home run in the sixth -- her first collegiate home run -- to pull Eastern to within 4-2. Eastern threatened for more runs in the sixth on base knocks by sophomore Katie Dinihanian (Stratford) and freshman pitcher Molly Rathbun (Hebron), but a double play started by Mattoon at short helped Berard escape. A two-out walk in the seventh brought the tying run to the plate, but Berard got an infield pop to Mattoon to end the game.
Rathbun (16-5) gave up seven hits while fanning eight and walking three. Through the first five innings, she limited the Anchorwomen to four hits and struck out six. Rathbun's seventh strikeout of the game made her only the second pitcher in program history to strike out as many as 200 batters in a season. Until Friday, only All-America Kim Durocher had fanned 200 in a season. She struck out 245 as a sophomore in 1986 in leading the Warriors to their fourth national championship in six years.
In two Little East Conference tournament losses, Eastern collected only one less hit than its opponents and Rathbun allowed only three earned runs and 14 hits (12 singles) for a 1.50 ERA in 14 innings. She struck out 14 and walked seven. Alicea had four of Eastern's 13 tournament hits and scored three of its five runs. Three Eastern errors, however, led to five unearned runs by Western and Rhode Island.
In the team's three losses to Rhode Island this year, Rathun was 0-2 with a 0.45 ERA, 21 strikeouts and six walks. Alicea was 6-for-9 in those three games with two doubles and a home run and two stolen bases. Dinihanian and junior Kim Church (Farmington) each had three hits and senior Rachel Denny (East Haddam) drove in three runs.
Rhode Island College 4, Eastern Conn. 2
Rhode Island (38-4) 000 004 0 -- 4 7 1
Eastern Conn. (25-11) 000 101 0 -- 2 6 1
Amanda Berard (13-3) and Kayla Jandreau. Molly Rathbun (16-5) and Nikki Mustin. 2B-Michelle Perrin (R), Priscilla Alicea (E); HR-Alicea (1) (E).
RIC beat Keene State 1-0 for the auto bid to the NCAA Softball Tournament
