WELLESLEY, Mass. – Sophomore shortstop Alyssa Hancock (Waterford) and senior centerfielder Mattie Brett (Waterford) combined for seven hits and seven RBI and six runs scored and junior Erin Miller (Waterford) spun a complete-game one-hitter when the Eastern Connecticut State University softball team routed Babson College, 9-0, in the first game on the way to a non-conference doubleheader sweep Tuesday afternoon at Alumni Field. The second game was stopped after six innings due to the eight-run rule. Eastern completed the sweep with a 4-2 second-game win.

At right: There was no stopping Mattie Brett in Tuesday's first game against Babson, when she homered, tripled and drove in five runs in a 9-0 victory. (Photo by Liam Murphy) 

Eastern (11-9)  snapped a 1-1 tie in the  fifth inning of the second game on sophomore Alicia White's (Colchester) go-ahead  RBI single (her first RBI of the year), and junior Shannon Martin (Wethersfield) made it 4-1 with an opposite-field double down the left field line. Freshman Samantha Valentine (Ridge, NY) pitched a five-hitter over the first 4 1/3 innings to gain her third win in four decisions, and Miller stranded the bases loaded in the seventh for her second save of the year. Miller retired No. 3  hitter Caitie Benoit (3-for-3 to that point) on a game-ending line drive to senior second baseman Jen Tamindzija (Malden, MA) to end the game.

Since losing eight of its first nine games, Eastern has won ten of its last 11. The Warriors are 5-1 in the last four days, having split with Plymouth State University and swept Keene State College over the weekend in Little East Conference play. Babson (13-12), which did not throw lefty senior pitching ace Kathleen Conway in the doubleheader, has lost five of its last six.

In the opener, No. 3 hitter Brett was 3-for-4 with a with five RBI and two runs scored and leadoff hitter  Hancock was 4-for-4 with four runs scored and two RBI.  Hancock opened the first game with a single through the left side, and Brett belted a two-run home run with one out. In the fourth, Hancock stroked a one-out double and Brett plated her with a two-out triple.

Leading 2-0 in the first game, the Warriors broke the game open with four runs in the second on four hits and an error. Hancock plated the first run of the frame with a single, Tamindizja came home on an infield throwing error, Brett drove in Hancock with a ground ball, and junior first baseman Sam Rossetti (Shelton) sent home Brett with an opposite-field single to right for her team-leading 23^rd RBI.

Sophomore Emily Komornik (Shelton) replaced Valentine with Eastern leading 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth and a runner on second base with one out. The first batter she faced lined the ball back to the box, where Komornik grabbed it and doubled  junior Nicole Ravetier off second to end the threat. With two out and one on, Babson loaded the bases against Komornik with a single and walk, prompting Miller's entrance.

Valentine allowed three hits and one unearned run in 2 1/3 innings, fanning one and walking one.

Eastern hosts Salve Regina University in a 4 p.m. non-conference doubleheader Thursday.