MINNEOLA, Fla. – The Springfield College softball team broke a tie with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning of the first game to snap an 11-game losing streak at the hands of Eastern Connecticut State University with a 9-4 non-conference victory, and scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to post a 4-3 victory in the second game of a doubleheader Monday at the National Training Center.

                                                                                                          At right: Stephanie Johnson

In the first game, Eastern (1-7) scored twice in the top of the fifth to take its only lead of the game, 4-3, on an RBI double by junior Sam Rossetti (Shelton) and an infield error on a ground ball by sophomore Alicia White (Colchester). Samantha Rentz (Griswold) – a first-year transfer from Springfield- -- followed by walking and senior Jen Tamindzija (Malden, MA) moved her up, but the Warriors stranded two in scoring position on an inning-ending strikeout.

Springfield (4-0) tied the first game in the fifth off Eastern junior starter Erin Miller (Waterford), then plated five in the bottom of the sixth against Miller and relievers Shannon Martin (Wethersfield) and Sam Valentine (Ridge, NY) The Pride sent ten batters to the plate in that inning, collecting four hits and benefitting from a walk and error. Leadoff hitter Christina  Leader sent home two runs in the inning with a one-out single.

Miller (1-3) pitched a total of five innings in the first-game loss. She was lifted with two outs in the first and returned to start the second and pitch into the sixth before giving way to Martin with one out in the sixth.

In the nightcap, Eastern moved out to a 3-2 lead by scoring a run in the top of the fifth on a one-out single by senior No. 9 hitter Stephanie Johnson (Plantsville), an error and an RBI bunt single by senior Mattie Brett (Waterford) – the 100^th hit of her three-year Eastern career – but the Pride scored the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the inning on two singles and a two-out, two-run single by Elizabeth Joseph off freshman reliever Summer Cipriani (North Stonington).

The second game was delayed by rain and lightning for the second time with Eastern trailing by one in the seventh, and Tamindzija on second base following a leadoff single and wild pitch. When play resumed, winning pitcher Jennifer Joseph got a strikeout and two infield popups to end the game.

Trailing 2-0 in the second game, Eastern tied the game with two runs in the top of the second after there were two out and none on. Tamindzija got it going with a single and a walk to freshman Tyler Keegan (Middletown) and Johnson loaded the bases for freshman Alyssa Hancock (Waterford), who singled in the tying runs.

Johnson collected two hits in each game batting from the No. 9 spot. Rentz reached safely four times in the opener on two hits and two walks and Hancock and  Tamindzija joined Johnson in the nightcap with two hits apiece.

Springfield competed in the NCAA Division III tournament last year, finishing with a 28-20 record.

Eastern faces SUNY Plattsburgh at 9 a.m. and UW-Stevens Point at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Clermont.