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CALDWELL SOFTBALL FALLS AT NCAA NORTHEAST REGIONAL

May 11, 2006

Courtesy of Matt McLagan, Caldwell SID

SMITHFIELD, RI - 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) 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.