COUGARS FALL TO RIVER HAWKS AT NORTHEAST REGIONAL
5-11-06
UML 3, CC 2
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today's action
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - A three-run sixth inning allowed the University of
Massachusetts-Lowell to defeat Caldwell College, 3-2 in the first round of
the NCAA Division II Northeast Region Softball Tournament at the Bryant
Softball Complex. The fourth-seeded Cougars, ranked 12th nationally, fall to
36-16 with the loss, while the fifth-seeded River Hawks are now 34-20 on the
season. The defeat puts Caldwell in the loser's bracket of the
double-elimination tournament, which resumes Friday, May 12.
The Cougars got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning.
Sophomore Alyssa Speno (Waterloo, NY/Waterloo), right, led off with a
single, then stole second. After moving to third on a groundout by sophomore
Nicole Bodrog (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape), Speno came home on a sacrifice
fly to right by senior Katie Jackson (Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville) to
give Caldwell a 1-0 lead.
The score remained 1-0 until the top of the sixth, when the River Hawks
scored three runs on three hits and an error. Vikki Guido led off with a
single and later scored on an error, followed by a bases-loaded single off
the bat of Jachael Guanci that knocked home two runs for a 3-1 lead. In the
bottom of the inning, the Cougars loaded the bases with three straight
two-out walks, but a groundout ended the inning and the threat.
The Cougars threatened again in the bottom of the seventh. With one out,
senior Kim Birmingham (Pine Hill, NJ/Overbrook) and sophomore
Carrie Flasphaler (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) walked, then advanced to
second and third, respectively on a wild pitch. Speno followed with a
sacrifice fly to right that brought home Birmingham and moved Flasphaler to
third. But relief pitcher Cyrilla Suker fanned Bodrog for the final out.
Junior pitcher Anna Dahl (Lindenwold, NJ/Camden Catholic) turned in a
strong performance, allowing seven singles, five of which never left the
infield, while striking out three. UMass-Lowell starter Kristin Mahoney, the
Northeast-10 Pitcher of the Year, yielded three hits and one run in six
innings for the win.
The Cougars are scheduled to play Southern New Hampshire, who lost to
top-seeded C.W. Post, at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 12. Friday's games have
been moved up in anticipation of inclement weather.
Here are the results and remaining schedule:
2006 NCAA Division II Northeast Region Tournament, at Bryant University
Thursday, May 11
Game 1: No. 6 Queens 4, No. 3 Bryant 3
Game 2: No. 7 Le Moyne 3, No. 2 Adelphi 1
Game 3: No. 5 UMass-Lowell 3, No. 4 Caldwell 2
Game 4: No. 1 C.W. Post 3, No. 8 S. New Hampshire 2
Friday, May 12
Game 5: No. 3 Bryant vs. No. 2 Adelphi, 8:00 a.m.
Game 6: No. 4 Caldwell vs. No. 8 S. New Hampshire, 10:00 a.m.
Game 7: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 12:00 p.m.
Game 8: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4. 2:00 p.m.
Game 9: Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 7 or 8, 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 13
Game 10: Winner of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 7 or 8, 12:00 p.m.
Game 11: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10, 3:00 p.m.
Game 12: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8, 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 14
Game 13: Winner of Game 11 vs. Loser of Game 12, 12:00 p.m.
Game 14: Winner of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 13, 2:00 p.m.
Monday, May 15
Game 15: Re-play Game 14 if necessary, 12:00 p.m.
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