MANSFIELD, Conn. - Western Connecticut State University freshman pitcher Alexandra Sabith threw a complete-game shutout to lift the third-seeded Colonials past top-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University, 1-0, in the winners' bracket final of the 2013 Little East softball championship tournament Friday afternoon at the Eastern Softball Field. Western scored its lone run of the ballgame in the first inning, while Sabith kept the Warriors' offense scoreless as the Colonials ended Eastern's streak of 14 consecutive LEC tournament victories.

The Colonials (22-21) will advance to the championship round at 2 p.m. Saturday, while Eastern (28-13) will square off against fifth-seeded Rhode Island College (21-22) in an elimination game at noon.

If the Warriors stay alive against Rhode Island, they must defeat Western twice later Saturday in order to annex their fourth consecutive championship. Western has won three titles, most recently in 2004.

Since 2001, Eastern Connecticut, Rhode Island College, and Western Connecticut have combined to capture 10 of the past 12 conference softball championships.

The 1-0 shutout was the second in three tournament games for Western, the first coming in its tournament opener Thursday against Keene. Sabith gained that victory as well, pitching the final 2 1/3 innings. Earlier Friday, the Colonials eliminated second-seeded Plymouth State, 8-2.

Western sophomore third baseman Nina Wojtkiewicz laced a line drive to left field and advanced to second on a defensive miscue. With one out, the Colonials pushed Wojtkiewicz to third with a ground out to first base. The small-ball strategy paid off, when Eastern starting pitcher sophomore Erin Miller (Waterford.) uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Wojtkiewicz to score from third. The Colonials strung consecutive hits together to chase Miller after just two-thirds of an inning.

That was be all the offense needed as Sabith hurled a complete-game gem, sending the Warriors to only their second shutout loss this year, both coming in the last five games. The rookie held the Warriors to just five hits without issuing a walk, while striking out five. She retired the first eight batters she faced, while setting retiring Eastern in order in the fifth and sixth.

Facing their first loss of the double-elimination tournament, the Warriors mounted a charge against Sabith in the bottom of the seventh. Junior leftfielder Megan Godwin (Manchester, Conn.) ripped a single into right-centerfield to start the frame. She was pushed over with a sacrifice bunt to place Eastern's first runner in scoring position. With two outs, freshman shortstop Alyssa Hancock (Waterford) hit a single through the box, but Western centerfielder Ashlie Morris threw a strike to the plate. The strong threw caused Godwin to slam on the brakes halfway down the threw baseline. Freshman catcher Erin Weber made an accurate throw to Wojtkiewicz to tag out a retreating Godwin for the final out of the game.

Eastern sophomore Shannon Martin (Wethersfield, Conn.) kept the Warriors within striking distance, throwing four and a third innings of scoreless relief. Senior Christine Akcer (Milford) retired six of the seven batters she faced.

After opening the tournament Thursday with a 5-1 win over sixth-seeded UMass Boston, Eastern rallied late to eliminate Keene State, 7-3, earlier Friday.

Eastern 7, Keene State 3

Eastern scored all of its runs in its final two at-bats - batting around in each frame -- to wipe out a one-run deficit and went on to its 14th consecutive Little East Conference softball tournament victory, 7-3, over fourth-seeded Keene.

Keene State (21-16) is eliminated in two straight tournament games for the second time in three years. The Owls dropped a 1-0 opening decision to Western Connecticut Thursday.

Batting 4-5-6 in the order, junior leftfielder Megan Godwin (Manchester), senior second baseman Kelly Paterson (Southington) and sophomore DP Shannon Martin (Wethersfield) each drove in runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Keene freshman pitcher Mariah Crisp carried a one-hit shutout into the sixth before the first six batters reached safely in a three-run Eastern inning. Godwin tied the game with a bases-loaded bloop single down the left field line on an 0-2 pitch, Paterson put the Warriors ahead for good with a solid single to left, and Martin was walked with the bases loaded to make it 3-1.

The Warriors tacked on four more in the top of the seventh on five hits, a suicide squeeze and walk to move out to a 7-1 lead. Senior third baseman Arielle Cooper (Mystic) and junior centerfielder Mattie Brett (Waterford) began the rally with singles, Godwin plated the first with a suicide squeeze, Paterson another with a double on an 0-2 pitch, and Martin followed with a run-scoring single. Junior catcher Megan Bondy (Mystic) knocked in the final run of the inning with a single.

Eastern sophomore Erin Miller (Waterford) won her seventh straight decision. Miller (13-2) pitched into the seventh inning and was charged with all three Keene runs on five hits. She fanned two and walked one.

Cooper broke the program's season hit record that she shared with Trish Wodatch with her 70th career hit leading off the sixth. Cooper reached safely four times with three hits and a walk. Paterson also had two hits.

Two of Keene's runs came on leadoff home runs. Freshman rightfielder Anna Glassman provided Crisp with a 1-0 lead with her shot in the third and senior catcher Nicole Dupuis knocked in the Owls' second run of the game in a two-run seventh inning that chased Miller in favor of Martin. No Keene batter had more than one hit.