COLUMBUS, Ga. --  In its season-opener, the Eastern Connecticut State University softball team wiped out an early five-run deficit by scoring six times in the top of the fifth, but Trine University followed with the tying and go-ahead runs in the bottom of the inning in a 10-7 win in the opening game of the NFCA Leadoff Classic Friday at South Commons Complex.

In the second game, senior Allison Macari of Stamford hurled a four-hit shutout – spacing all singles – as Ithaca College (1-1) bounced back from an opening loss to No. 7 East Texas Baptist University in a 3-0 win over Eastern (0-2). Senior Emily Komornik (Shelton) gave up only one earned run and Summer Cipriani (North Stonington) pitched the final three shutout innings in the loss. Komornik allowed four hits and two walks and Cipriani surrendered juts two hits and a walk. Ithaca scored once in the second and twice in the third. Vanessa Brown and Emily Bloom each had two hits and scored a run for the Bombers.

Trailing 5-0 after two innings, Eastern chased Trine (5-4) starter Racquel Ward by scoring six runs (three unearned) in the fifth on four hits, a passed ball and a Thunder error.  All-America Alyssa Hancock (Waterford), Samantha Rentz (Griswold), Komornik and Jessica Seymour (Barkhamsted) all drove in runs in the inning.

In the bottom of the inning, Trine scored three unearned runs when Rachel Zink cleared the bases with a two-out, three-run opposite field triple down the right field line in her only official at-bat of the game. A one-out infield error provided the Thunder with their first baserunner of the inning.

Cipriani was Eastern's only multiple-hit batter, with two hits, but the lefty was saddled with the loss during a four-inning stint in which she allowed only two earned runs.

The game pitted 2015 conference champions and NCAA qualifiers. The Thunder were 39-5 a year ago.

Eastern faces No. 7 East Texas Baptist University Saturday at 12:30 p.m.