NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - For the third consecutive season, the Little East Conference earned multiple bids to the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament after the NCAA Division III Selection Committee announced the 59-team tournament field this morning. Rhode Island College earned the second seed in the Beverly, Mass. Region, while Eastern Connecticut State University is fifth in the Mahwah, N.J. Region.

The Anchorwomen earned the conference's automatic qualifier after capturing their fourth consecutive Little East Softball Championship this past weekend. Under the direction of Head Coach Maria Morin, Rhode Island College is tied with Cortland State for the most victories in the tournament field with a 40-5 record. The Anchorwomen boast a dominant pitching staff, ranking 10th in the nation in team earn run average (1.13). Sophomore Amanda Berard (Swansea, Mass.) is the ace on the staff, ranking first in the nation in saves (11) and fourth in ERA (0.54).

Rhode Island College will be joined in the Beverly, Mass Region by top-seeded Tufts University (38-1), U.S. Coast Guard Academy (36-5-1), Endicott College (37-7), Emerson College (32-9), Bridgewater State College (28-9), Springfield College (20-22), and Husson University (26-14). The Anchorwomen sport a 2-0 record against the eight-team field, sweeping a doubleheader from the Bears in Bridgewater, Mass. on March 31. Rhode Island College and the Pride will meet in the first round on Thursday, May 7.

The Warriors are making their second-straight appearance in the national tournament, securing one of the 17 at-large berths. Head Coach Diana Pepin led Eastern Connecticut to an overall record of 25-11, including a 10-6 mark in the Little East. Freshman pitcher Molly Rathbun (Hebron, Conn.) ranks among the nation leaders in pitching, ranking second in hits allowed per seven innings (2.76), third in earned run average (0.50), and 13th in strikeout per seven innings (9.7).

Eastern Connecticut will be joined in the Mahwah, N.J. Region by No. 1 Messiah College (35-4), No. 2 William Patterson (32-7), No. 3 Rowan (32-10), No. 4 Moravian (34-9), No. 6 Farmingdale State (32-4), No. 7 Muhlenberg (19-16), and No. 8 Staten Island (23-12). The Warriors have not faced any of the teams in their bracket this season.

For complete coverage of the NCAA Division III Tournament, log on to LittleEast.com for the updated game schedule, as well as, complete box scores and recaps.