MANSFIELD, Conn. – Highlighted by freshman shortstop Sara Pisanelli's (Wallingford) two-run double, the Eastern Connecticut State University softball team scored four runs with two out in the fourth inning and went on to a 7-5 non-conference win over No. 19-ranked Springfield College in splitting a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at the Eastern Softball Stadium.

In the second game, Springfield sophomore righty Shelby Allen (7-2) stranded the winning run on third base by striking out two batters in the bottom of the eighth, and Springfield (22-4) scored four times in the top of the ninth – with Gabby Alfieri plating two with a single -- as the Pride salvaged the split with a 7-5, nine-inning victory.

In the second game, Allen tossed a complete-game eight-hitter, fanning ten and walking two and being charged with only two earned runs. Eastern freshman righty Haleigh Cardello (Litchfield, NH) allowed only one earned run in 5 2/3 inning of relief without a decision, striking out seven and walking two. The stint was by far the longest of the year for Cardello, who had thrown only 11 1/3 innings over five previous appearance.

Eastern senior righty Samantha Valentine (Ridge, NY) earned the first-game win for Eastern – her third straight -- pitching the first four innings and getting stellar relief from freshman lefty Morgan Sanson (Thomaston), who fanned four with a walk and allowed only two runs for her second save. Sanson took over with a runner on second and Eastern leading 6-3 in the fifth and got her first four outs via strikeout, stranding two runners in scoring position in that fifth inning.

Eastern's four-run fourth in the first game erased a one-run deficit and lifted it into its 6-3 lead. All four runs came across after there were two out and one runner aboard. No. 9 hitter Rebecca DeFeo (Richmond, RI) reached after lining a ball off starting and losing pitcher Nicole Cring (4-1). Pisanelli then cracked her two-run double to left that sent in the tying and go-ahead run. Junior leftfielder Jessica Seymour (Barkhamsted) followed with an RBI single to shallow left and senior right-side infielder Gina Georgetti (Milford) made it 6-3 when she greeted new pitcher Jordyn Moquin with an RBI double to left.

In the first game, Springfield scored once in the top of the fourth with the help of two bunt singles and a wild pitch to take a 3-2 lead, but failed to further expand their lead by leaving the bases loaded against Valentine. Playing second, Georgetti cut down a runner at home for the second out, and Valentine induced a routine pop to Georgetti for the final out in escaping further damage.

 Springfield cut the Eastern lead to two in the opener by scoring twice in the seventh on three singles and a walk, but Sanson nailed down her second save when Georgetti, playing first, snared Alfieri's liner and stepped on first for a game-ending double play.

The Warriors tied the second game by scoring their first two runs in the fourth inning on freshman second baseman Meghan Navarro's (Taunton, MA) first career RBI (single) and sophomore rightfielder Calli Duthrie's (Griswold) ground ball.

Utilizing the international tie-breaking system, Springfield pushed across the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of the nightcap on junior Mackenzie Navarro's RBI single down the left field line, but the Warriors answered with the tying run in the bottom of the inning on senior centerfielder Samantha Bardos' (Norwalk) suicide squeeze. Bardos reached safely and a double steal moved her to third with one out (Springfield third baseman Sam Cox saving the game at that point by knocking down the throw from catcher Alfieri), but Allen forced the ninth inning with a pair of inning-ending strikeouts.

In the doubleheader, four Eastern players had three hits, among them Bardos, who drove in two runs and also stole three bases.

Duthrie made three highlight-reel catches in the second game that stranded runners and ended the fifth, sixth and eighth innings. The first two kept the game tied at 2-all and the third prevented Springfield from adding to a 3-2 lead.

Seven Springfield players contributed at least two hits on the day. Alfieri and Allie Wheeler each drove in two runs, with Kirsten Drobiak lashing two doubles among her three hits and also reaching three times on walks. Talia Loda, batting leadoff, led the Pride with four hits and Carianna Gasdia had three hits and scored two runs.

Eastern visits Western New England University in a non-conference doubleheader Friday at 3 p.m.