MANSFIELD, Conn. - Sophomore Kendall Allen (Naugatuck, Conn.) went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Western Connecticut State University Wolves to a 6-1 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in an elimination game of the Little East Conference (LEC) Softball Championship Tournament this evening at Washburne Field.  No. 5-seeded WestConn improves to 24-19 and will face top-seeded and tournament host Eastern Connecticut in the consolation bracket semifinals on Saturday.  No. 2-seeded Southern Maine ends its year at 20-20.

WestConn jumped on the Huskies early when junior SS Jaycee Filancia (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) led off with single, stole second, and scored on a two-out single up the middle by Allen.  The Wolves scored another run in the second frame on a leadoff double by senior OF Brianna Malvino (Glen Cove, N.Y.) and a sacrifice fly to deep left field by classmate Madison Zicchinelli (Miller Place, N.Y.).  Taylor Takatsu hit an RBI double in the bottom of the second for the Huskies, but that would be the lone Southern Maine run off the Wolves pitching duo of senior lefty Olivia Bordenaro (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y) and sophomore righty Lindsay Farinacchio (Red Hook, N.Y.).

WestConn added an insurance run in the fourth on a single by Allen, a double by graduate Gretchen Bunovsky (Monroe, Conn.) and a sacrifice fly by Malvino.  A three-run sixth frame gave WestConn a five-run lead Filancia and senior OF Carly Cordova (East Haven, Conn.) both singled and scored and Allen delivered a two-run single in the inning.  Southern Maine loaded the bases without an out in the bottom of the sixth, but Farinacchio retired three batters in a run on a foul popop and two grounders to the mound.

"Our entire pitching staff has been working hard all year on fielding their position and supporting each other and today it really showed," said WestConn Head Coach Heather Stone.  "Today's win was a total team effort."

Bordenaro pitched the first three innings, allowing three hits and a run while striking out two.  Farinacchio got the win, improving to 12-9, pitching the last four innings and giving up just two hits with two K's.  Filancia joined Allen with three hits and scored twice and freshman Sera DeBaggis (Mendham, Mass.) had a single and scored a run.  Mia Coots took the loss in the circle for the Huskies, who lost, 5-2, to Plymouth State earlier in the day and were eliminated from the tournament in two games after receiving a bye.