Suspense builds in ECSU's national softball tourney opener
May 27—SALEM, Va. — Eastern Connecticut State University will have to wait a few more days to finish up its first game of the NCAA Division III softball national tournament against Trine University at the James Moyer Sports Complex.
The third-seeded Warriors (43-5) and No. 6 Thunder (32-11) finally got under way at 8 p.m. Thursday, playing for just under two hours before heavy rains deemed the field unplayable with Eastern coming to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning in a 2- all tie.
The game was subsequently suspended and the teams were set to resume play this morning at a time the tournament committee determined when it met this morning at 7 a. m. All tournament games must be played to completion.
The Eastern- Trine winner will take on second- seeded Salisbury University ( 42- 6) later today at a time not yet determined while the loser will meet Millikin University (37-8)0 Salisbury posted a come-frombehind, 6- 5 win in nine innings that delayed the start of the Eastern- Trine game. Top- seeded, top- ranked and once- beaten Christopher Newport University also played comefrom- behind for an 8-6 win over eighth-seeded WPI in Thursday's first game.
Up to the point of suspension, first- team All- America sophomore righthander Alexis Michon worked into the fifth inning of her 25th start of the season, giving up two runs on two hits while striking out eight batters and walking two over 4 M/X innings before giving way to senior Morgan Bolduk, a 2019 All-America.
With her eight strikeouts, Michon has recorded 197 strikeouts on the season, moving within three of the 200 mark and nine of tying the fifth- most strikeouts ( 206) in a single season set by All- America pitcher Molly Rathbun in 2009.
Striking first, Trine sophomore third baseman Scarlett Elliott lofted a towering fly ball to left field in the second inning for her fifth round- tripper of the season, the fourth homer allowed this year by Michon.
Senior outfielder and No. 9 hitter Laura Zenk got the offense going for Eastern in the third inning with a ground ball single up the middle. Graduate outfielder Alexis Tyrrell singled home Zenk as the rain began to intensify.
Two straight walks by sophomore righthander Adrienne Rosey loaded the bases for the Warriors and, after a strikeout, junior left fielder Carley Stoker gave Eastern a 2- 1 lead with an RBI single to left field.
Batting ninth, freshman catcher Ainsley Phillips hit an RBI double in the fifth inning to tie the ballgame up at two apiece after a lead-off walk issued by Michon to freshman second baseman Emma Beyer, who moved into scoring position by stealing second.
Replacing Michon with two outs, Bolduk came on in relief to retire the dangerous junior outfielder and lead- off hitter Ellie Trine to end the Thunder threat.
With a chance to take the lead in the sixth, two consecutive walks issued by Bolduk with one out put runners on first and second for Elliott.
Grounding a ball toward the second base bag, first-year shortstop Maggie Rubeck fielded the ball, stepped on second and fired to first where Elliott, who did not run through the base, was initially ruled safe.
Eastern head coach Diana Pepin challenged the call and, upon further review, Elliott was ruled out on an inning- ending double- play.
Senior first- team All- America Julia SanGiovanni is due up to lead off the bottom of the sixth when play resumes. She was walked twice in her first plate appearances of the game.
