Box Score
CLERMONT, Fla. – The Eastern Connecticut State University softball team parlayed ten hits, eight walks and six Fredonia State University errors into a season-opening 11-6 victory Monday morning at Legends Field Ballfields.
 
Eastern's second game against Framingham State University was postponed due to rain.
 
Leading 5-4, the Warriors broke the game open by scoring five runs in the sixth on three hits, two errors, a walk, hit batter and three stolen bases, with junior centerfielder Julia Boya's (Coventry) two-out, two-run double to left highlighting the inning. Senior catcher Abby Thompson (Westborough, MA) and first-year junior transfer shortstop Grace Jenkins (Groton) also drove in runs in the inning. Thompson plated the first run of the inning a single and Jenkins' two-out single made it 7-4.
 
Three pitchers made their Eastern debuts, with first-year righty Leah Chatfield (Naugatuck) pitching into the fifth inning to gain her first win in her first decision. Chatfield took a 5-2 lead into the inning and was lifted after allowing a leadoff double and walking the second batter, with both runners eventually scoring that made it 5-4 before the Warriors broke the game open with their five-run sixth inning.
 
Sophomore third baseman and cleanup hitter Sam Healy (Cranston, RI) reached four times on walks (one shy of the 40-year-old program record), scored twice and drove in a fourth-inning run with a sacrifice fly.
 
Batting second in the order, junior leftfielder Kaley Laird (Bristol) scored three times with two walks and a HBP and stole three of the team's six bases. Thompson was 3-for-4 with a double, walk, stolen base and three RBI. Senior first baseman Maddy Bowen (Hudson, NH), Jenkins and Boya all had two hits.
 
Five of Eastern's runs were scored by players who reached via walk, HBP or error. Fredonia (0-5) starting pitcher Kendall Phillips (0-3) allowed five hits and walked six and was charged with five runs over the first 3 1/3 innings but was victimized by three errors that led to four unearned runs.
 
Redshirt sophomore righty Julia Raymond (Woonsocket, RI) and first-year junior righty transfer Hadley Marchand (Andover) finished up on the mound. Raymond got all three outs after taking over for Chatfield in the fifth and Marchand gave up two runs on three hits and two walks and fanned two over the final two innings.
 
On Tuesday at Hancock Park in Clermont, Eastern is scheduled to face William Paterson University at 12:15 p.m. and Concordia University (TX) at 3 p.m.