May 10, 2006

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- It was announced on Wednesday, May 10 at the BIG EAST Softball Tournament Banquet in South Bend, Ind., that three Providence College players earned All-BIG EAST honors. Sophomore infielder Sam Pittman (San Diego, Calif.) was named to the second team, while junior catcher Rachel Bartholomew (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) and senior utility player Elena Romero (Chula Vista, Calif.) earned third team accolades.

Pittman earned the honor for the first time in her career as she batted .338 with six runs and seven RBIs in 22 conference games. She led the team in BIG EAST play with three doubles and a .987 fielding percentage as she committed just one error in 77 chances.

Bartholomew, who was named to the BIG EAST first team in 2004, led the Friars with a .358 batting average, 13 runs, 24 hits, six home runs and 17 RBIs in 22 conference games this season. In addition, her six home runs finished tied for second in the league. Bartholomew, who was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on April 24, also recorded a .981 fielding percentage. Overall, she has 12 home runs this season and 28 in her career, which is a Providence College record.

For Romero, it marks the first time in her career that she has been named to an All-BIG EAST team. She batted .323 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 22 conference games. In addition, she had three doubles and finished second on the squad with a .468 slugging percentage in league games. Romero, who was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on March 27, had a career high 15-game hit streak earlier this season.

Providence finished sixth in the BIG EAST Conference standings with an 11-11 league record and a 29-18-1 overall mark. The Friars earned a BIG EAST Conference Tournament berth for the first time since 1996 and they will play third seed and tournament host Notre Dame on Thursday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m.