PROVIDENCE, RI – Sixth-seeded Saint Joseph's College (37-10, 21-3 GNAC) fell to #4 Rhode Island College (38-12, 9-5 LEC), 7-4, in an elimination game of the NCAA DIII Softball Regional Tournament on Sunday morning. First baseman Alyssa Dunn '11 (Standish, ME) went 3-3 with a two-run homer in the contest, which capped an historic four-game run at the NCAA's for the Monks.

St. Joe's, which had never before qualified for the NCAA Tournament, opened the tourney on Thursday with an 8-1 win over #3 Endicott College and went on to stun #2 Coast Guard Academy by a 4-3 margin the following day. The Monks suffered a 5-1 setback to Eastern Connecticut, the defending regional champion and top seed this spring, yesterday and were eliminated from contention with the three-run loss this morning.

The Anchorwomen moved on to play Eastern Connecticut, undefeated in tournament play, in the championship round shortly after tipping St. Joe's. RIC managed to defeat the Warriors, 3-1, with the help of a three-run jack in the top of the seventh to force an "if-necessary" game, which will be played Monday at 10:00 AM. The winner will advance to the NCAA DIII National Championship Tournament.

Saint Joseph's, a very solid defensive team all season long, committed three errors and Rhode Island College took full advantage of the extra outs by scoring six unearned runs in the regional tilt. It was just the fourth time all year that the Monks had committed three or more errors and the second occasion since returning to New England from their spring trip. Despite the defensive lapses, the Royal Blue refused to go away quietly and managed to close the gap with two-run homers in the fourth and seventh innings, respectively.

RIC broke through against SJC junior pitcher Maddie Kluna (Standish, ME) in the top of the third. Senior designated player Laura DeNoncour (Johnston, RI) reached on an dropped fly ball and was lifted for junior pinch runner Jaci Lata (Lisbon, NH). After a sacrifice moved Lata up into scoring position, Kluna got freshman left fielder Stacy Pokora (Wilton, CT) to fly out to center field. Senior catcher Kayla Jandreau (Plainville, CT), who missed almost the entire game in yesterday's victory over Coast Guard, returned to action and belted a two-run homer (3) over the left field fence.

The Anchorwomen were not finished, however, as sophomore second baseman Marisa Jandreau (Plainville, CT) reached on an infield single and senior Donielle Mattoon (Coventry, RI) walked to put runners on first and second. Senior first baseman Chelsi Panarelli (Shrewsbury, MA) singled down the left field line, and Jandreau who was running hard with two outs, scored from second to make it 3-0.

RIC senior starter Amanda Berard (Swansea, MA) pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless softball, until the fourth when freshman designated player Jill Howard (Rochester, NH) singled up the middle. Berard was one strike away from ending the threat, but senior first baseman Alyssa Dunn (Standish, ME) homered (6) over the left field wall to make it a one-run, 3-2, ballgame.

In the sixth, RIC senior center fielder Amanda Perry (New Bedford, MA) and Pokora started the frame with back-to-back singles. Kayla Jandreau reached on a fielder's choice when a St. Joe's attempt to cut down Pokora at second was misplayed. With the bases loaded, Marisa Jandreau knocked in Perry with an RBI groundout to shortstop. Mattoon followed with an aggressive sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher to plate Pokora and make it, 5-2.

The Anchorwomen added what proved to be two key additional runs in the seventh as sophomore right fielder Kristina Gingell (Pascoag, RI) singled and eventually scored on an error. Pokora picked up an additional RBI with a single to center field and give RIC a 7-2 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.

The Monks would not go down easily as Dunn led off with a single and sophomore third baseman Heather Tripp (Lovell, ME) belted her fourth homer of the year to pull SJC within three runs, 7-4. Berard picked up two consecutive strikeouts, but the next two batters she faced reached on an error and an infield single. She then induced a game-ending fly out to left field.

Berard continued her impressive run through the latter half of the tournament, throwing her second consecutive complete game to earn the victory (17-6). Berard went the full seven innings allowing only four runs on eight hits, to go along with five strikeouts. Berard, who has now pitched the last 19 innings played by her team, now has a tournament-leading four wins.

Kluna took the loss (14-5), allowing only one earned run and nine hits in six innings in the circle. Senior Kiera Walsh (Benton, ME) allowed two hits and a pair of unearned runs in the seventh inning.

Gingell went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Pokora equaled her effort at the plate and chipped in with a run scored and an RBI.

For the Monks, the loss caps not only one of the most successful seasons in SJC Softball history, but SJC Athletics history. The 2011 team's win total (37) is tied for the second-most wins by the softball program and is also the second-highest achieved by a Saint Joseph's team. The top win total in Monks Athletics history, 38 games, was reached by the 1996 softball and 2001 baseball teams.

The 2011 senior class – Dunn, Walsh and Natasha Howard (Farmington, ME) – certainly left its mark on the program with a 122-51 (.705) record, including a 79-19 (.806) mark in conference play, four GNAC Tournament appearances and two ECAC Championship Tournament berths. The softball senior-class win total is the most since the 1998 graduating class notched 127 victories over four seasons.

Dunn, one of the most consistent contributors in program history, finished her exceptional career with a .382 (191-500) batting average, 44 doubles, 13 home runs and 123 RBI. The four-year starter posted her most impressive season as a senior, as she hit .384 (58-151) with career-highs in hits, at bats, runs (28), homers (6) and RBI (34) in 2011. Also an excellent defender, Dunn did not commit an error in 325 chances at first base this spring.

Saint Joseph's was one of just 27 teams – out of 398 NCAA DIII Softball programs across the country - to still be playing on May 15th.

THANKS IN PART TO RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION