SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Junior Laura Bower (Hudson, MA) tossed a two-hitter for her 20th victory of the season and freshman first base player Trish Breault (Millville, MA) had the game-winning RBI single with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning as fourth-seeded Western New England College blanked fifth-seeded Plymouth State 1-0 in a first round game of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Regional Softball Championship Wednesday afternoon (May 7).

Bower, a right-hander, tied her career high with 15 strikeouts and issued only one walk in improving her record to 20-8.

She is only the third pitcher in the program's 40-year history to win 20 games in a season joining Jackie Shedlock (23 in 2005, 20 in 2004) and Marcie Bruder (22 in 2002, 20 in 2003) in the exclusive club.

With a runner placed on second base in extra innings, sophomore leftfielder Lauren Arsenault (Fitchburg, MA) moved sophomore rightfielder Christina Farese (Marlborough, MA) to third with a sacrifice bunt. Breault then followed with her game-winning hit. Earlier in the game, she had a double in the fourth.

Arsenault and Farese also had singles in the game along with junior shortstop Brittany DeGennaro (Orange, CT).

Plymouth State sophomore Kat Roland (Norton, MA) took the loss despite pitching an outstanding game as well. She gave up five hits, didn't walk anyone, and fanned 12 hitters. Roland now has a 12-7 record.

Junior shortstop Heather Bartolo (Derry, HH) and freshman first base player Melissa Caiazzo (Portland, ME) had the only hits for the Panthers (25-15).

Western New England College (29-14) will visit top-seeded Brandeis (a 2-1 winner over Emerson) at 11:00 am Saturday (May 10) in the double elimination portion of the tournament.