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Apr 27, 2008

Springfield Advances to NEWMAC Softball Championship Game

WELLELSEY, Mass. -- Springfield College edged Wheaton College this morning, 2-1, in the consolation final of the New England Men's and Women's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Softball Championships.  Wheaton finishes the season at 29-14.  Springfield, now 26-14, will face Wellesley in today's championship game at noon at Wellesley College.

Springfield got on the board first when Jaimie Moran (Manchester, Conn.) led off the bottom of the second with a double down the leftfield line. Moran advanced to third on a sacrifice from Amanda Lyons (Eastchester, N.Y.), then raced home on Shanda Kogut's (Preston, Conn.) single to short leftfield, giving the Pride a 1-0 lead.

Springfield's lead appeared secure through the middle innings.  The Pride's Samantha Rhodes (Mendon, Mass.), despite allowing four hits in the first two innings, settled into rhythm and retired six of seven batters in the next two frames.  But  Wheaton broke through in the top of the fifth, when the Lyons capitalized on a Springfield miscue and back-to-back singles from Audrey Poulton (Charlestown, R.I.) and Erika Marini (Pawtucket, R.I.) to tie the game at 1-1.

Springfield responded in the bottom of the inning, as Denise Fumicello (Brockton, Mass) led off with a single.  Atkins ripped her second double down the thirdbase line, driving in Fumicello for a 2-1 lead.

The Lyons threatened in the of the sixth, when consecutive singles from Brady Benton (Concord, N.H.) and Lynn Cotto (Brookfield, Conn.) put two on with one out.  Nicole DeRosa (Greenwich, Conn.) followed with a bouncer to second, and a bad hop threatened to tie the game. But the Pride's Fumicello recovered quickly and nailed Benton at home to maintain Springfield's one-run lead.

Rhodes allowed one base runner in the top of the seventh but held on for the win, allowing nine hits and one run in seven innings of work. Atkins had two doubles and one RBI for the Pride. Moran added two hits, while Fumicello and Kogut chipped in one hit each.

For the Lyons, starter Jodi Moynaugh (Worcester, Mass.) was solid in four innings in the circle, allowing only three hits and one run.  Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, Mass.) took the loss, giving up three hits and the winning run in relief.

Complete tournament information can be found at:
http://www.wellesley.edu/athletics/athletics/softball/newmac/index.html