WELLESLEY, Mass. -- In a classic pitcher's duel, Rivier College defeated Bowdoin College, 1-0, in the first round of the NCAA Softball Regional Tournament Thursday afternoon at Wellesley College. With the victory, the Raiders advance to Game #7, Friday, May 14, at 2pm against Eastern Connecticut State. The Polar Bears move to Game #5, Friday at 10am against Husson University.

Rivier ace Monica White (Augusta, ME) and Bowdoin hurler Kara Nilan (Pittsfield, MA) battled evenly through scoreless six innings. Both pitchers faced threats, with Nilan getting a key strike out to leave three Rivier runners stranded in the fifth and White returning the favor in the bottom of the sixth to keep the game tied at 0-0.

But Rivier broke the ice in the top of the seventh, when Amanda Thornton (Hanover, MA) led off with a double to right field. A sacrifice bunt from Karen Waterman (Rutland, VT) advanced pinch runner Danielle Magnant (Franklin, VT) to third, and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Brenna Campbell (Nashua, NH) plated Magnant for the 1-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, White coaxed a pop to shortstop and fanned two to seal the win.

For the Raiders, White and Marissa Mercier (North Smithfield, RI) had two hits apiece, while Katie Bachinski (Northfield, MA) and Thornton chipped in one each. Campbell notched the game-winning RBI. White (27-3) gets the win, allowing only four hits and fanning 10 in the shutout.

Nilan led the Polar Bears with two hits. Caroline Dewar (Katonah, NY) and Molly Nestor (Duxbury, MA) tallied one hit each. Despite a strong outing, Nilan (12-4) gets the loss, giving up six hits and one run.

*Courtesy Rivier College Athletic Communications