Miller, last year's Little East Conference Pitcher-of-the-Year, fanned six without a walk against Husson (3-6) and made Rossetti's fifth-inning RBI double plating junior shortstop Alyssa Hancock (Waterford) stand up in the season-opening win. Junior Emily Komornik (Shelton) – primarily a pitcher the last two years -- recorded her first two career hits as the designated player.

                                                                                     At right: Shannon Martin

Sophomore righty Samantha Valentine (Ridge, NY) stifled Catholic (5-5) on four hits over four innings to gain the win against the Cardinals. Valentine struck out five without a walk. Cipriani, who closed out the win with a scoreless fifth, had a pinch two-out two-run single in the fourth when Eastern scored three unearned runs.

Hancock's leadoff double and Rossetti's RBI single gave Eastern a 1-0 lead after one against Catholic, but the Cardinals tied the game in the third on cleanup hitter Erin Adams' two-out single to center. The Warriors batted around in the bottom of the third, however, scoring five runs. Hancock singled to lead off the inning and later scored when Rossetti chased starter Sydney McGrath (2-2)  with an RBI single that proved to be the winning run. The next five batters reached safely against new pitcher Victoria Marcavage, who walked four and hit a batter as the Warriors tacked on four more.

In the fourth, senior Shannon Martin (Wethersfield) doubled home Rossetti as part of the three-run inning before an error and Cipriani's two-run single capped Eastern's scoring.

Monday at DiamondPlex, Eastern faces Skidmore College at 10 a.m. and St. Norbert College at 12:15.