Willimantic, Conn. - March 22, 2023 - In its first action since returning from Florida, the Springfield College softball team fell to Eastern Connecticut State in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday.  The Warriors earned a 7-1 victory in the opener before hanging on for a 7-6 triumph in the second game of the twinbill.  The Pride is now 9-3, while the Warriors, who went to the College World Series a season ago, improved to 7-5.

Springfield is scheduled to play in its home opener on Saturday against Worcester State at 12 pm.

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Game One 

Both Michaela Ponticello (Gloversville, N.Y.) and Callie Gendron (Berlin, Conn.) totaled a pair of hits in the opening game as the Pride stranded 13 baserunners in the setback.  Amelia DeRosa (Miller Place, N.Y.) took the first loss of her career as she gave up three earned runs in four innings.  After falling behind 2-0 in the opening inning, Springfield struck in the second inning off a run-scoring single by Maggie Britt (Bridgeport, Conn.).  The Warriors would respond with the game's next five runs, and despite Springfield loading up the bases with no outs in the seventh, the Pride could not get a run across. 

Game Two

Mackenzie Doyle (Glocester, R.I.) went 3-for-4 in the second game, while Ponticello and DeRosa each produced two hits. Gillian Kane (New Canaan, Conn.) took the loss after giving up six earned runs off 11 hits in four innings of work.

It was an explosive third inning for Springfield as it sent 11 batters to the plate, which would result in seven hits and six runs. All six runs came with two outs, as Ponticello and Dana Serricchio (Stamford, Conn.) each registered singles that drove in a pair of runs.  However, ECSU would answer with five runs in the bottom half of the frame to get back into the contest.  The Warriors would go ahead for good in the fourth inning, scoring two runs with two outs following five singles, as it would hold on for the sweep.