Hartford, Conn. – Sophomore Molly Rathbun (Hebron,
Conn.) tossed a two-hit shutout in the first game and
homered in the second game, and freshman 3B Arielle Cooper
(Mystic, Conn.) blasted home runs in both games to lead
the visiting Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors to an
5/6-0/2 doubleheader sweep against the Trinity College Bantams in
softball action this afternoon. Trinity falls to 19-13 and
extends its losing streak to five games, while the Warriors, ranked
No. 19 in the nation, improve to 24-4-1.
Rathbun yielded just one walk over the first six innings of the
first game, before infield hits by Trinity freshman 3B
Caroline Blanchard (Norwich, Conn.) and senior
co-captain SS Patricia Cipicchio (Southmont, N.C.)
broke up the no-hit bid in the seventh frame. Cooper broke
open a 2-0 game with a three-run homer over the center field fence
with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. Bantam
sophomore hurler Katherine Poulos (Wilton, Conn.)
took the complete-game loss.
In game two, Trinity junior RHP Kristen Anderson (West
Haven, Conn.) pitched the first six innings and gave up
four hits and one run, as the Bantams held a 2-1 lead heading into
the final frame. The Warriors came back with five runs in the
top of the seventh inning to take the lead, taking advantage of a
throwing error by Trinity sophomore reliever Lindsay
Gibbons (Basking Ridge, N.J.) that scored the tying run
from second base. Eastern Connecticut pinch-hitter Kelly
Paterson (Southington, Conn.) opened the inning with a double to
right-center and scored when Gibbons' throw on a bunt attempt
sailed over the first baseman's head. Batting next,
senior OF Ashley Sullivan (Trumbull, Conn.)
knocked the game-winning, two-run shot over the right field wall,
immediately followed by a solo blast by Rathbun well over the
center field fence. The Warriors added an unearned insurance
run after Anderson re-entered the circle to lead, 6-2, in the
middle of the seventh, and Rathbun struck out the side in the
bottom of the inning to secure the win and the sweep for the
visitors.
The Bantams had taken a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning on a
lead-off double by senior OF Erika Klotz (Naperville,
Ill.) and RBI singles by senior OF Jessica Tait
(North Salem, N.Y.) and Blanchard. Trinity had
runners in scoring position in the first three innings and the
sixth inning, but did not score. Warrior starter
Kassandra Silva (Hamden, Conn.) pitched out of a
none-out, bases-loaded jam in the second inning, striking out the
last two batters, and Eastern Connecticut nailed two consecutive
runners at the plate in the sixth inning on a failed squeeze
attempt and a pitched ball by the catcher that was quickly
retrieved. Tait finished 2-for-3 for the Trinity offense,
while Rathbun was 2-for-3 for Eastern Connecticut, and Cooper
knocked her second home run of the day in the second inning.
Freshman RHP Christine Akcer (Milford, Conn.)
tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win for the
Warriors.
Game 1 box score
Game 2 box score
