Hartford, Conn. – Senior Arielle Cooper (Mystic, Conn.) had a big day at the plate to lead the visiting Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors to a softball doubleheader sweep this afternoon against the Trinity College Bantams, 9/11-0/7.  Trinity falls to 8-11 after the day and Eastern Connecticut improves to 15-7 on the year. 

The bats were quiet in the opening game until the third inning, when sophomore Sam Rossetti (Shelton, Conn.) stepped to the plate and took advantage of a Trinity error by blasting a two-out three-run homerun to get things going for the Warriors.  In the following inning, junior Megan Bondy (Mystic, Conn.) delivered an RBI triple to put the Warriors up 4-0. 

Trinity ran into more trouble in the sixth inning when Cooper hit her own two-out three-run homerun for the Warriors, giving the visitors a 7-0 lead.  Eastern added two more runs in the seventh, creating too big a hole for Trinity to recover.  On the mound, Eastern senior starter Christine Akcer (Milford, Conn.) mowed down the Bantam bats, cruising her way to a three-hit shutout against a strong Trinity lineup.    Trinity senior co-captain Caroline Blanchard (Norwich, Conn.) picked up two of Trinity's three hits in the game.  Rookie Elizabeth McQuaid (Lowell, Mass.) earned the only other Trinity hit. 

The Warriors carried momentum into Game Two.  Eastern jumped to an 8-0 lead behind a pair of four-run innings, highlighted by a two-run double by Rossetti and a two-run homerun by sophomore Shannon Martin (Wethersfield, Conn.).  Trinity made an attempt at a comeback, chipping into the lead with a three-run third.  The team's traded runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, but the scoring stopped after Trinity scored a pair of runs in the sixth. 

Cooper reached base six times, including four hits, four RBI, and three runs scored in the doubleheader.  McQuaid had two hits, including an RBI triple and two runs scored to lead the Trinity offense in Game Two.  Sophomore Miranda Riendeau-Card (Bowdoinham, Maine) got a rare start in Game Two on the hill for Trinity, allowing one earned runs in 3.2 innings of work.  First-year pitcher Amanda Feldman (Natick, Mass.) pitched 9.2 innings for Trinity today.

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score