Springfield, Mass. – March 24, 2026 – The Springfield College softball team came from behind with five runs in the sixth inning in both games of a non-conference doubleheader with Eastern Connecticut State University on Tuesday afternoon at Potter Field.

Springfield improved to 8-3 on the season, while Eastern Connecticut dipped to 6-4. The Pride will open conference play on Saturday at home against Salve Regina University beginning at 1:00 pm.

Carissa Pecchia (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) ended the twinbill with a 4-for-5 effort at the plate with four RBI including a game-winning three run double in the nightcap. Amelia DeRosa (Miller Place, N.Y.) went 3-for-8 at the plate with seven RBI and scored three runs in addition to earning the win in the circle in game one.

Game One: Springfield 5, ECSU 3

After five scoreless innings, Springfield and Eastern Connecticut combined for eight runs in the sixth. Through those first five frames only one batter from either side reached third base and it came from Elizabeth Mitchell, who started the fourth with a single. She moved to second on an error and to third on a ground out before DeRosa retired the side.

Springfield had recorded two outs in the top of the sixth, but Mitchell and Jordan Bennett came across with Eastern's first two runs of the game on a double to the gap by Jenna Maus. An RBI single to center plated Ashlyn Kenefick to provide a third run for the visitors.

The hosts quickly answered in the bottom of the frame as Reilly Hunter (Wallingford, Conn.) began the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle before Pecchia earned a five pitch walk. Hunter advanced to third on a wild pitch and then was driven in by Emilia Santiago (West Hartford, Conn.), who drilled a double to right center for Springfield's first run of the game. An RBI single to left by Madison King (Burlington, Mass.) plated Pecchia cutting Springfield's deficit to just one at 3-2.

King then stole second before Haley Ball (Westbrook, Maine) worked a six pitch walk to load the bases. It looked like Mitchell was going to be able to get out of the jam, but DeRosa came to the plate and drilled a bases clearing double over the centerfielder's head giving Springfield a 5-3 lead. 

DeRosa returned to the circle and set the Warriors down 1-2-3 in the seventh securing the game one win. The senior improved to 5-2 in the circle and struck out a trio for the Pride in the opener.

Game Two: Springfield 13, ECSU 12 (6 Innings)
 
After Springfield tallied a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Pecchia, Eastern Connecticut struck for five runs in the top of the second. The Warriors scored two runs on wild pitches, one on a bases loaded walk and one on an RBI single by Grace Jenkins.

The Pride responded by loading the bases in the bottom of the second on a single by Rachel Powers (Tigard, Ore.), a walk and a fielder's choice. Ball worked a four pitch walk with the bags full before Hunter drove in Taylor Falotico (Windsor, Conn.) on a sacrifice fly and DeRosa came across with a run on a fielder's choice on a groundout by Kate Katsetos (Brewster, N.Y.). The score stood at 5-4 in favor of Eastern through two.

Eastern put the game out of reach with a run in the third and four in the fourth highlighted by a three-run double by Mitchell. Springfield threatened in its half of the fourth with two runners on, but a diving play at short by Jenkins ended the inning.

Eastern added two runs in the fifth to forge ahead 12-4, but Springfield strung together four runs of its own in the fifth to keep the game alive. King and Powers walked before Sammy Swords (Plano, Texas) roped a pinch hit single through the left side. This setup DeRosa as she drilled a three-run triple just inside third base bag to clear the bases. Hunter then grounded out to score DeRosa leaving the score at 12-8 through five.

Julia Rimshnick (Staten Island, N.Y.) got out of the top of the sixth unscathed before Springfield rallied to win the game 13-12 in the bottom of the sixth. The game was called due to darkness after six frames.

Madi Testo (Keene, N.H.) began the sixth with a single and Powers reached on an error to put runners on second and third with one out. Back-to-back RBI singles by Falotico and DeRosa made it 12-10, but a leaping catch at shortstop had Springfield down to its final out. DeRosa and Falotico moved into scoring position on wild pitches before Hunter worked a walk to load the bases again.

Mitchell was brought into pitch behind in the count 2-0 to Pecchia and after seeing a ball and a strike, took the 3-1 pitch into the gap in left center to clear the bases pushing Springfield ahead 13-12, proving to be the game winning hit. The game was called at that point as the Pride swept the Warriors this afternoon.

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