NEWPORT, R.I. -- The #7 Simmons softball team scored two runs in the top of the seventh to defeat the #2 Salve Regina Seahawks, 2-0 and advance to the double elimination round of the tournament Friday evening.

The game began and remained a pitching duel to the end as Great Northeast Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.) and Seahawks Jen Cruver both threw complete games, with Backhaus recording nine strikeouts and giving up only two hits while Cruver struck out three and gave up five hits.

The Sharks found their bats in the top of the seventh when Christina Mulcahy (Cambridge, Mass.) started the inning with a single to the left side. Ari King (Westford, Mass.) reached on an error by the first basemen before Cailin Pagel (Dorchester, Mass.) hit a line drive to the second baseman to score Mulcahy for the winning run. Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) hit a triple to right center to send King across home plate to give the Sharks a two-run lead.

The Seahawks had the final at bat but Backhaus struck out one and the Sharks defense was flawless as the Sharks advanced in the ECAC Division III Softball Championship Tournament.

Simmons will return to action Saturday afternoon when the face the #3 seed Endicott College at Brandeis University at 12:00 p.m.

New England

2012 ECAC Division III New England Softball Championship

First Round – Wednesday, May 9

No. 1 Brandeis def. No. 8 Daniel Webster, 7-1
No. 5 Rivier def. No. 4 Plymouth State, 5-3 

Friday, May 11 *Rescheduled from May 10

No. 6 Worcester State (21-19) at No. 3 Endicott (22-17-1), 4:00 p.m.
No. 7 Simmons (24-16) at No. 2 Salve Regina (24-16), 2-0

Double Elimination – Saturday, May 12 at Brandeis

Game 1: No. 1 Brandeis vs. No. 5 Rivier, 10:00 a.m.
Game 2: Simmons vs. Endicott, 12:00 p.m.
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2:00 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 4:00 p.m.

Championship – Sunday, May 13 at Brandeis

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 11:00 a.m.
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1:00 a.m.
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 3:00 p.m. (If Necessary)