New London, Conn. – April 26, 2009 – Fourth-seeded Springfield scored three unearned runs in the first inning and two more in the second, taking advantage of four Coast Guard errors, two in each inning, and eliminated the top-seeded Bears with a 7-0 win in Game #9 of the New England WomenÂ's and MenÂ's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament.
Springfield (18-22) advances to the championship game and will take on second-seeded Wellesley. The Pride have to beat the Blue twice to win the title.
The Pride scored the first earned run of the game in the third as senior Angela Atkins RBI single followed a pair of walks to make the score 6-0.
Junior Michelle WlosekÂ's RBI single in the sixth gave the Pride a 7-0 lead, its sixth unearned run of the game.
Springfield senior Samantha Rhodes scattered four hits, did not walk a batter and struck out one to even her record at 10-10.
Coast Guard (33-4-1) freshman Hayley Feindel (29-3), took the loss. She allowed five hits, seven runs, one earned while walking six and striking out 11.
Senior Amanda Lyons had two of the PrideÂ's five hits and scored a pair of runs.