Courtesy Tufts Sports Information

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Second-seeded Tufts University defeated seventh-seeded Rivier, 6-3, in game three of the NCAA Softball New England Regional, hosted by Rhode Island College. The Jumbos (29-9) advance to face third-seeded St. Joseph's tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. The Raiders (24-13) will play an elimination game with fifth-seeded Lesley tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.

Tufts took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Junior third  baseman Samantha Kuhles (Somerville, N.J.) led off with a bunt single to third base, then stole second. Junior center fielder Laura Chapman (Seattle, Wash.) followed with a walk and the pair moved up to second and third, respectively, on a ground out. Sophomore first baseman Christy Tinker (Woodbridge, Conn.) plated Kuhles with a sacrifice fly to left field for the game's first run. Senior second baseman Danielle Lopez (Danvers, Mass.) doubled in Chapman and classmate catcher Megan Cusick (Albany, N.Y.) plated the frame's final run with an RBI infield single.

The Jumbos added an additional run in the third as junior designated hitter Cara Hovhanessian (Farmington, Conn.) singled and eventually scored on Cusick's misplayed single to left field.

The Raiders finally got to Tufts junior starting pitcher Lauren Gelmetti (Westfield, N.J.) in the top of the sixth, plating three runs. Freshman left fielder Shannon Mansfield (Pelham, N.H.) led off with an infield single and eventually scored on an error. Junior designated player Ann Marie Day (Cornish, Maine) pulled Rivier within one with a two-run single. Gelmetti finally got out of the inning with a ground out with two aboard.

Tufts added two insurance runs in the home half of the frame. Sophomore shortstop Casey Sullivan (Berlin, Conn.) reached on a two-out single, stole second and scored on junior left fielder Roni Herbst's (Montclair, N.J.) RBI triple that took a wild hop over Mansfield in left field. The Jumbos added another run as Herbst scored on an error.

Gelmetti earned the win (10-2), allowing three runs on eight hits, while striking out six.

Rivier sophomore starting pitcher Monica White (Augusta, Maine) took the loss (20-8), allowing six runs, only four of which were earned, on 11 hits.