Rhode Island College is returning to the NCAA Division III softball championship round for the second consecutive season. The Anchorwomen (36-7) are bound for Salem, Va., for the tournament that starts Friday and runs through next Tuesday. They will play the University of Texas at Tyler Friday morning at 11.

Top-seeded RIC won the New England regional Sunday afternoon with a 1-0 victory over third-seeded St. Joseph’s of Long Island at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex. Freshman Melanie Neece threw a one-hitter and struck out 10 and outdueled the St. Joseph’s ace pitcher and hitter Jennifer Martinez, who pitched a four-hitter and struck out six. Neece struck out Martinez with two outs and the bases loaded in the second inning and retired 13 consecutive batters over the last 4 1/3 innings. Martinez finished her career with 1,169 strikeouts, the NCAA Division III career record.

Neece, Christi Lotti, Kelsey Souza, Michelle Perrin and Kayla Jandreau of RIC were named to the all-tournament team.

In Division II, eighth-seeded New Haven upset sixth-seeded Bryant, 5-1, in the NCAA Northeast Regional, ending one of the most successful seasons in Bryant history.

The Bulldogs finished 30-16 in their final Division II campaign. Janine Enos (20-7) took the loss, but her victory total this season is a school record. She will graduate Saturday with a career record of 55-29.

In Division I, Delaware State senior Jessica Chrabaszcz (Johnston/La Salle) helped the Hornets to their first MEAC championship and berth in the NCAA Tournament. They will face Houston (50-9) in the opening round Friday night at Houston.

Chrabaszcz made first-team All-MEAC this spring.

She led the league in doubles (18), tied for fourth in RBI (37) and was eighth in hitting (.385).

Hofstra junior Kayleigh Lotti (South Attleboro/St. Raphael) pitched the Pride to its 11th consecutive Colonial Athletic Association Tournament championship. Facing elimination, Hofstra defeated James Madison, 3-1, in 11 innings on a walk-off home run by Courtney Oliver (Swansea).

Hofstra (43-11) will host an NCAA Regional this weekend and will play Long Island University Friday. Providence College (25-25-2, 8-12) ended its season with an 8-6 loss to South Florida in the first round of the Big East Tournament.

URI races to supremacy

The University of Rhode Island won its fifth consecutive New England men’s outdoor track championship at the University of New Hampshire. The Rams scored 122 points. UConn was second with 79 and Sacred Heart third with 60.

Kelley rises above field

CCRI’s Amanda Kelley (Cumberland) finished first or second in the throwing events at the NJCAA National Track and Field Championships at SUNY-Delhi. She won the javelin (33.4m) and finished second in the shot put, hammer and discus.

Ivy salutes Brown’s Burke

Brown lacrosse goalie Jordan Burke is the Ivy League player of the year and unanimous first-team all-Ivy. He led the nation in save percentage (.674) and was fourth in goals against average (6.43). He is a finalist for the Tewaarton Award.

Burke, a junior, is Brown’s ninth Ivy player of the year. The others include Mark Farnham (1979), Tad Barrows (1980), Bill Aliber (1983), Darren Muller (1985), Tom Gagnon (1986), Darren Lowe (1992), Andy Towers (1993) and David Evans (1995).

mszostak@projo.com