March 3, 2011

Providence, R.I. - The Providence College softball team will open up play in the Florida Atlantic Miken Classic Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla. on Friday, March 4 when it takes on Stony Brook at 1:00 p.m. and Florida Atlantic at 6:00 p.m. On Saturday, March 5, the Friars will take on South Carolina at 9:00 a.m. and Michigan State at 1:00 p.m. Providence will then wrap up play in the tournament on Sunday, when it takes on Harvard at 9:00 a.m.

The Friars are coming off a its first victory of the season with a 6-5 win over Illinois on Sunday, February 20 to wrap up play in the FIU Annual Blue and Gold Felsberg Memorial Tournament in Miami, Fla.

The Fighting Illini jumped out to an early, 3-0, lead in the bottom of the first inning, but Providence responded with six unanswered runs. In the second inning, junior Kim Pelland (Saunderstown, R.I.) homered to left field, her first of the season and third of her career. With two outs, the Friars tallied two more runs to finish the second inning. Junior Michelle Huber (Dana Point, Calif.) doubled to left field to knock in freshman Mackenzie Morgan (Sulphur Springs, Texas) who pinch ran for sophomore Jessie Bryant (Marlborough, Mass.). Junior Jen Abrams (Reading, Mass.) then knocked in Huber on the next play with a single.

Providence added to its lead in third inning. Freshman Kaitlyn Duval (Shrewsbury, Mass.) drew a walk and advanced to third after Pelland doubled to center field. Bryant knocked in both runners with a home run to left field, her first of the season. Illinois scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but fell just short as the Friars earned the victory.

Junior Alicia Grosso (Baldwin, N.Y.) earned the win after pitching six plus innings. Grosso faced 28 batters and gave up only three earned runs on six hits.

-GO FRIARS-